This Explains It
Yesterday, we were told that we could no longer use any kind of external media (government issued or personal) on any DoD computer system anymore. This is more than an “inconvenience” as a lot of our daily work is carried out via thumbdrive/External hard drive. Its the best way to transport documents, carry classes (I carry all my CLS materials on a thumbdrive), etc. Not to mention the Army has been pushing paperlessness for at least a couple decades. With the announcement yesterday, we have been sent back to the 80’s where we have to carry around large books with documents, make tons of copies, and carry laptops around just to get any work done. Of course, as is the norm with the army, it was never explained why this came about.
Well, its seems the DoD has come under “cyber attack” in the form of the SillyFDC worm. This worm infects computers, then jumps to ANY removable media inserted into the computer. When that media is inserted in another computer is jumps again, and again, et al.
If people would just follow the basic DoD rules, install AV Software on work computers and home PCs (the DoD Provides two AV services for free), this wouldn’t be an issue, but because of this the DoD has once again overreacted and banned everything. Eventually I am sure some devices will be allowed, but daily activity has become that much more of a PITA now.
I say the DoD should switch to Linux. Its cost-effective, virus/worm issues are almost non-existant, its POSIX compliant, and doesn’t have nearly the issues that Winblows has requiring legions of IT techs to keep the system running.
The Defense Department’s geeks are spooked by a rapidly spreading worm crawling across their networks. So they’ve suspended the use of so-called thumb drives, CDs, flash media cards, and all other removable data storage devices from their nets, to try to keep the worm from multiplying any further.
The ban comes from the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, according to an internal Army e-mail. It applies to both the secret SIPR and unclassified NIPR nets. The suspension, which includes everything from external hard drives to “floppy disks,” is supposed to take effect “immediately.” Similar notices went out to the other military services.
Other sources:
Slashdot
Wired.com
Wired: Military Ban Meant to Stop Adversary Attacks
i’ve some problem with system and...
Here are two possible solutions for you:
A) E-Mail the files you will need to your AKO E-Mail as an attachment. Now they are available where ever you can access AKO.
B) Save files in “My Private Knowledge Center” on AKO. Then you can access them from there.
That works assuming you are on the computer you create the file on. Same goes for Netwrok Drives. But if you have to move to a classroom with no network access, have a class to teach, an the only laptop you can use isn’t yours, how do you get the class onto it? You can’t use a CD, thumbdrive, floppy, or any other means of external media.
It just makes life a bit more complicated.