Gartner: MÐ3 Players to Threaten Corporate Security

Gartner has reported that many gadgets can pose a serious threat to corporate security . According to the agency's report, devices with USB and FireWire can carry two dangers at once. First, a harmful code can be launched from a device connected to a company's computer; second, the device can be used as a carrier for valuable information stolen from a corporate network.

The agency's report points out that many USB devices - whether those are USB-connected mobile hard disks, flash drives, MP3 players like iPod, digital cameras with SmartMedia, Memory Stick, or Compact Flash cards - can be potentially dangerous.

Gartner claims that the only efficient protection is restricting access to corporate network from workstations with personal equipment connected to them for both employed and contracted workers. It also suggests disabling the Plug'n'Play function once all drivers required for the computer's proper operation are installed. Thus, only allowed devices will be able to interact with the computer.

However, such measures appear to be too strict - many companies, due to their scope of activity, often need to use one or the other digital device. Therefore, the other suggested solution is using software that restricts devices connected to a computer via certain ports.

Andrew Pismenny
July 8, 2004