[WEB4LIB] Security on circulating wireless laptop computers

[Thomas Bennett]

The patron has to sign a contract that holds him or her responsible for the
total replacement cost of the machine if it is not returned as scheduled.
This is a fine just like an overdue book so we can bill this against their
University Account if they don't pay.  That means they cannot receive a
degree, transcript, or sign up for the next semester until the fine is paid.
As of yet, we have not found a viable product to use on notebooks that will
set off our 3m security gate alarm.

We use HDD Sheriff on the laptops.  HDD Sheriff checks for any changes to
the hard drive on boot.  If any changes are found HDD Sheriff rewrites our
original setup image to the harddrive.  Testing it, I used the deltree
command to delete the Windows directory after booting into DOS Commandline
only.  On reboot it took about 30-60 seconds before the Windows Desktop came
up.  To make any changes to the computer, you have to boot up with a
hardware key attached to the printer port.  Each computer can only use the
hardware key that was attached to it when HD Sheriff was installed, you
can't interchange the keys.

http://www.hdd-sheriff.com/

Thomas
-----Original Message-----
From: web4lib at webjunction.org
[mailto:web4lib at webjunction.org]On Behalf Of Lele, Pradeep
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2002 5:29 PM
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: [WEB4LIB] Security on circulating wireless laptop computers


How are libraries handling security on the wireless laptops that you check
out to students in the library?
Are you using a software solution like DeepFreeze? or are you simply
"ghosting" the laptops on return?
We are in the process of introducing this service but are concerned about
critical files being deleted... of course not to mention
 "other" usual concerns like - "unpalatable" images :)

Pradeep Lele
Reference/Information Technology Librarian
North Harris College
Houston, TX 77073

Tel: 281 618 7123