[Web4lib] Re: Info Week article re: portable drives (was)

[Michael McEvoy]

The possible answers have a lot of "if" attached to it...

IF the person is a cracker and uses a Library computer to, say, hack into
the Pentagon and steal schematics for building a better nuclear bomb...

IF the library has inadequate network security, a person could download a
client used for accessing your ILS, and then use the client at other
locations access your patron's data.

IF the library has copies of licensed programs available in any fashion
that the patron could download from you... then release pirated copies on
the Internet to all his/her buddies.

IF the patron uses the USB to launch a P2P program and begins downloading
movies... prompting a visit from the wonderful RIAA or MPAA folks for
copyright infringement.

Most of these "if's" are likely against your standard user agreement and
Internet Use policies (assuming you have these available). They also apply
to any library providing wireless/wired hotspot access.

In most cases, you're just weighing the good versus the bad. USB flash
provides a very easy, portable way to save documents and carry work with
you. Likewise, it provides an easily concealable means to save and carry
stuff you're not supposed to.


On Wed, May 3, 2006 09:21, travelinlibrarian.8248287 at bloglines.com wrote:
- > As I read that article, the "security risks" are from USB drives with
- > sensitive
- > data being stolen and from people using them to copy and remove data -
> they're
- > not supposed to walk off with. How does either of these things apply to a
- > public terminal in a library. Seriously, what possible data would a -
> library
- > put on a public computer that they need to protect from leaving the -
> building?
- >
- >
- > Michael Sauers
- > Internet Trainer, BCR
- >
- > --- kgreen at vrs.va.state.us wrote:
- >
- > Information Week has a relevant article today about the security risks
- > that
- > USB drives present -- and a few of the solutions that companies are -
> developing.
- >
- >>
- >>
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=187002724
- >
- >>
- >>   ~Kelly Green
- >
- > _______________________________________________
- > Web4lib mailing list
- > Web4lib at webjunction.org
- > http://lists.webjunction.org/web4lib/
- >


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