Pentagon banning flash drives...

[brokencrow]

"The Pentagon has banned, at least temporarily, the use of external computer flash drives because of a virus threat officials detected on Defense Department networks.

While defense officials would not publicly confirm the ban, messages were sent to department employees informing them of the new restrictions. As part of the ban, the Pentagon was collecting any of the small flash drives that were purchased or provided by the department to workers, according to one message distributed to employees.

Workers are being told there is no guarantee they will ever get the devices back and it is not clear how long the ban will last.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman would provide no details on the virus Friday, but he described it as a "global virus" that has been the subject of public alerts."

http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/200811...n_cyber_threat

[nihil]

Yeah, I've been tracking that particular "virus" for some time now.

he described it as a "global virus" that has been the subject of public alerts.

It is called the "turd for brains military and public servants virus" Expect laptops and R/W optical media to be added to the list in the near future

Anything that goes off an even remotely secure site must be encrypted and on read only media........... but they still manage to lose stuff and bring in malware................ I wonder how and why?

[The-Spec]

I didn't think they allowed it in the first place.

[brokencrow]

...the "turd for brains military and public servants virus"

That was around long before computers were. Goes in
the blind-leading-the-leading-the-blind category.

... but they still manage to lose stuff and bring in malware................ I wonder how and why.

Some things were never meant to be understood.

[Cider]

Would someone mind posting the article for me to read here as it is blocked here at work.

Thanks.

[Cheap Scotch Ron]

WASHINGTON - The Pentagon has banned, at least temporarily, the use of external computer flash drives because of a virus threat officials detected on Defense Department networks.

While defense officials would not publicly confirm the ban, messages were sent to department employees informing them of the new restrictions. As part of the ban, the Pentagon was collecting any of the small flash drives that were purchased or provided by the department to workers, according to one message distributed to employees.

Workers are being told there is no guarantee they will ever get the devices back and it is not clear how long the ban will last.

Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman would provide no details on the virus Friday, but he described it as a "global virus" that has been the subject of public alerts.

"This is not solely a department problem, this is not solely a government problem," Whitman said.

The Pentagon has acknowledged that its vast computer network is scanned or probed by outsiders millions of times each day. Last year a cyber attack forced the Defense Department to take up to 1,500 computers off line.

Officials said then that a penetration of the system was detected, but the attack had no adverse impact on department operations.

However, military leaders have consistently warned of potential threats from a variety of sources including other countries — such as China — along with other self-styled cyber-vigilantes and terrorists.

The issue has also been of concern at the Department of Homeland Security. A September audit by the DHS Inspector General recommended that the agency implement greater procedures to ensure that only authorized computer flash drives or other storage devices can be connected to the network there and that an inventory of those devices be set up.

DHS agreed with the recommendations and said some of that is already being done. DHS also said more software enhancements are in the works that will provide more protection.

[NukEvil]

Flash drives/other removable media have nothing to do with their current problem. As Nihil put it so eloquently (sp.?), stupidity seems to be the major issue. Another issue is a lack of adherence to policies (if they even have any) regarding basic system protection (weak/blank passwords, etc)...

Hi, NukEvil................. I fixed the spelling for you mate...... nihil

[phernandez]

I didn't think they allowed it in the first place.

Exactly!

[nihil]

@ phernandez and The-Spec,

Correct me if I am wrong, but I seem to recall that there was a scandal about flash drives when we first went into Iraq?

Apparently local support staff at US bases were stealing them because they were just left plugged in or lying around?

[brokencrow]

I didn't think they allowed it in the first place.

Not true. USB drives have been widely used, as reflected in NASA's somewhat convoluted policy.

http://www.nasawatch.com/archives/20...umb_drive.html