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Microsoft creating new mobile device protocols

Mr magoo   on 09 September 2004 - 13:51 · 8 comments & 1364 views

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Microsoft will introduce a new system for mobile devices that connect with PCs, with the end aim of allowing IT Managers to restrict specifically what can, and more importantly what cannot, connect to their network.

Devices like iPods and USB key rings present a major security risk to corporate networks. They allow users to easily by-pass restrictions on what is allowed onto the network; they also present security challenges in terms of restricting what leaves corporate networks. Currently, sys admins on large scale networks have few tools to restrict this kind of activity; some high security organisations and many government systems ban devices outright, and Microsoft wants to present companies with an alternative to this option. Padmanand Warrier, a developer in Microsoft's Windows unit, told C|Net that many Windows admins had reported it as "a real problem".

Microsoft will implement "Plug and Play Extensions" in 2006 (i.e. with Longhorn), and it will affect how all mobile devices connect to PCs (wireless, Bluetooth, USB). Microsoft announced the new technology at this years IDF in San Francisco.

View: Discussion | Mobile Tech Forum @ IDF


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#1 dimitris on 09 Sep 2004 - 14:36
I will wait for the new protocol. Till now you could only deny users to unplug their devices but not plug them!
#2 LampkinsMateSteve on 09 Sep 2004 - 15:06
More and more protocols, more and more 'standards'....
(3 replies) #3 aristotle-dude on 09 Sep 2004 - 16:11
WTF? LOL talk about sloppy journalism. I don't get why the iPod is singled out here. Any device that works with either USB as a mass storage device or firewire can be used to steal data. The real problem is cultural and psychological. If someone is determined to screw a company over from the inside, they will do it. The heart of the problem is the user, not the technology. If they cannot trust their users to a certain degree, then they have problems that no security can fix.

Some watches can be used as a mass storage device, same this with USB enabled pens.

If someone had access to a CD burner, they could steal data. We have an external DVD burner and a external CD burner floating around our IT department because we need to use them from time to time for work related stuff. Obviously, you don't want to give everyone unfettered access but there is a certain level of trust in our company. I have to request from sys admin to get access to data to run reports for business people in the company but that is more of a safety measure for me as a developer so that I don't have constant access to live data when I am doing unit testing and development.

I have a question for you guys: Who watches the watchers? A sys admin could go rogue and steal data right? What I'm trying to say is the best security is ensuring you know you have people you can trust and keeping tabs on how people are feeling about their job.
#3.1 STV on 09 Sep 2004 - 17:05
QUOTE
Devices like iPods and USB key rings

as far as hard drive players go the iPod is the most popular and as far as hard drives go it is one of the smallest (with that amount of space).

QUOTE
What I'm trying to say is the best security is ensuring you know you have people you can trust and keeping tabs on how people are feeling about their job.
this is true, but this new technology will help if it is implemented and administered th right way.

STV
#3.2 aristotle-dude on 09 Sep 2004 - 17:13
I agree that rules and security policies can help, especially with business end users but IT is often a special case where they often have more power and with it more trust/responsibilty. Functionality should only be removed if the trust is not there or it is not needed to do the job.

I've just seen cases where a sys admin applied policies too hastily causing difficulties for the rest of IT to do their job effectively.
#3.3 STV on 10 Sep 2004 - 00:38
ill accept that. but even so, i think that some form of this is still needed.

STV
#4 guppydrop on 09 Sep 2004 - 20:33
If they had replaced 'iPod' with some model from iRiver, very few people would have known what the hell they'd meant. And it would have been sloppy journalism to list out every single make and model of hard drive based player as well, don't you think? iPod has become the generic term for hard disk mp3 players.
#5 i3x171um on 11 Sep 2004 - 22:13
i like the story's picture.. more stories should use bliss when referencing windows xp

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