[WEB4LIB] Win2000 download restrictions

[Dan Lester]

Tuesday, June 05, 2001, 2:30:06 PM, you wrote:

smc>   1)      They are concerned about being held personally liable for any
smc>   illegal downloads found on a city computer.  How are other IS depts 
smc>   dealing
smc>   with this liability issue?

If people are using individual logins, then you'll know who did the
download.  Of course even if you do an illegal download, who will
know?  If it is software that is installed, you'll know who installed.
And I'd be VERY surprised if the city powers are going to come around
and see if you snagged an mp3 or a jpg from somewhere.

Also, the city folks can't be held "personally liable" for what you
do. Theoretically the CITY could be liable, but as long as there are
policies about such things, the city should be protected unless there
is protracted negligence (like your boss knows you're doing bad things
and lets it happen).  NOTE: I'm not a lawyer, thank goodness.

smc> 2)      Library staff certainly have legitimate reasons to download 
smc> content,
smc> and I want to find out if there are solutions in Win2000 for limiting 
smc> rather
smc> than completely prohibiting downloads.  For instance, can downloads 
smc> be
smc> limited to a particular drive in W2K?

smc> I think the Gates grant computers, which use WIN NT (similar in some 
smc> was to WIN 2000) are programmed to allow downloading ONLY  to the 
smc> A (floppy) drive.

As noted, you can set aside a particular drive or directory for
downloads and control it in 2000.  (And NT4 isn't just similar to
2000, it is an earlier version of it.  Win2000 is NT5, and so
identifies itself.)

smc>  There are profiles set up for various types of users, 
smc> and the "staff" and "administrator" profiles allow different activities 
smc> from the "public" profiles.  (For example, MS FrontPage is available 
smc> only under the "staff" profile; the history feature is also available only 
smc> in "staff" or "admin.")  I don't know if this topic has been covered in 
smc> Web4Lib archives.

You can do just about any control you want under 2000.  Learning all
about that isn't for me to teach, and is off topic here anyway.  But
any of the Win2000 books will cover it, as well as many web sources.

smc> I am assuming that your system will have anti-virus software which 
smc> will run automatically at a set time or when the computer is turned 
smc> on.  If your users may download only to a floppy disk, I would think 
smc> posting a warning against viruses would cover liability issues.

I would also trust that the antivirus software would always be on and
autodetecting for email or anything else.  It ought to be.




-- 
Dan Lester, Data Wrangler  dan at RiverOfData.com
3577 East Pecan, Boise, Idaho  83716-7115 USA
www.riverofdata.com  www.postcard.org  www.gailndan.com