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?

[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.

[The-Spec]

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

[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?

[Linen0ise]

@ 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?

You mean when soldiers film the battlefield operations meant to stay secret only to have the young soldier remove the 8GB micro-sd card. I bet 99% of them don't know what a stamp flash drive look like. You could easily walk past Gomer Pile.

http://counterterrorismblog.org/

Who is watching the watchers? funny stuff

[nihil]

You mean when soldiers film the battlefield operations meant to stay secret only to have the young soldier remove the 8GB micro-sd card.

No, this was just kit around offices etc where they employed locals as janitors and support staff. They just stole it because it was easy pickings?

Linen0ise

Roaches have eaten your Avatar man!!!!!!

Time for you to use your "RAID" knowledge huh?

[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

[nihil]

As NukEvil says:

Flash drives/other removable media have nothing to do with their current problem.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)...

This is a much more fundamental and deep seated problem that has nothing to do with technology or operating systems. In fact, to suggest that it has is to make an even greater mistake of suggesting that technology can provide the solution. Which, of itself, it cannot.

This is about:

1. A security model.
2. Security policies.
3. Security processes to enforce the policies.
4. Security procedures to support the processes.
5. Governance & management of the security system.

Given that there is generally a high turnover of personel in military and government environments it is vital that there is an appropriate succession and training mechanism to prevent the whole system being gradually degraded.