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Building Secure Computers?

Posted by Cliff on from the even-keyboard-adccess-won't-make-it-easy dept.

maotx asks: "Growing into the job of a system administrator, I've been tasked with something I'm not quite prepared for: purchase or build a computer that meets DoD compliance for classified 'Secret' information. Several vendors, including Dell our primary supplier, offers computers that will work, but being new to the criteria I want to make sure the right computer is purchased. The computer will be used to create secure CAD drawings (Solidworks, OrCAD, etc) and must have, from what I can tell, a removable hard drive and security stickers to prevent tampering. What is you're experience in setting up a secure computer and is it better to have a vendor do it, or yourself?"

13 of 628 comments (clear)

  1. Secures computers need Windowsz 95 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    So sayeth the editors of Slashdot.

    1. Re:Secures computers need Windowsz 95 by jericho4.0 · · Score: 4, Funny
      "Ask Slashdot: Where New Tech Should Libraries Try Next?" posted by Cliff @ 4:30PM.

      "Ask Slashdot: Building Secures Computers?" posted by Cliff @ 7:32PM.

      He'll pass out by 10, I bet.

      --
      "A language that doesn't affect the way you think about programming, is not worth knowing" - Alan Perlis
    2. Re:Secures computers need Windowsz 95 by SYFer · · Score: 5, Funny

      No no no. If you'd actually read TFA, you'd see that the building in question is contructed with windows and doors so small that a computer cannot be passed through them, ergo the building does indeed secure the computers. Now that IS news for nerds!

      --
      "...all the labours of the ages, all the devotion, all the inspiration, all the noonday brightness..." yada yada
    3. Re:Secures computers need Windowsz 95 by Baricom · · Score: 4, Funny

      Tell me about it. Slashdot posts are the paragon of literacy, insight, and high social class. It would be utter disaster if the plebians that frequent digg were to soil the characteristic quality and originality found on Slashdot.

  2. A few too many 's'-es by jrockway · · Score: 5, Funny

    Buildings secure computers? Computers secure building? What?

    Oh, you meant "building secure computers".

    --
    My other car is first.
    1. Re:A few too many 's'-es by Basehart · · Score: 4, Funny

      I was halfway through building a lego house next to my computer to make it more secure before I realized it was a typo.

      Duh

  3. I heard that... by rbarreira · · Score: 5, Funny

    I heard that the first step towards building secures computers is to be attentive to small details such as spelling and grammar.

    --

    The AACS key is NOT 0xF606EEFD628B1CA427BEA93A9CA9773F
  4. Don't ask IANA... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Asking Slashdot about DoD guidelines is like asking an elementary school for details about the space shuttle."

    True. But we ARE good with law, business, and economics.

  5. A building that secures computers, interesting. by Agret · · Score: 4, Funny

    How does this building secure the computers? Does it use laser cutty things like on Resident Evil?

    --
    Have you metaroderated recently?
  6. Two methods of doing this: by toadlife · · Score: 5, Funny

    First of all you'll need a server equipped with tiny C4 charges embedded in each of the hard drives. This is a handy way of deleting data on your hard drives very quickly. I hear HP can furnish these.

    Second, you will need to hire a troupe of security guards to watch over the computer. Equip them with an M16's, and have them work in shifts, escorting users to and from the computers. If you can't afford a humans, several dozen trained monkeys will do the job. Just make sure and keep at least three extra monkeys on hand so you can replace the dead ones. You'll need at least two monkey handlers if you go the monkey route - one to watch over the monkeys and one to fill in when the first one gets shot.

    For a bit of extra security, you can purchase an used electric chair from one of the states that have switched to lethal injection and use it as the chair for the workstation. One armed guard can stand holding the red button, ready to fry to operator in case (s)he mishandles any data, or looks at the guards funny, while another guard stands ready to kill the other in case they refuse to press the red button.

    If you can't afford or find an electric chair on the retail market, submit an "ask slashdot" article and I'm sure you'll get plenty of tips on how to build one yourself.

    Or if you want to save money you could just install the super secure Gentoo Linux operating system and set it to update itself via emerge automatically every hour.

    It's your choice.

    --
    I don't always use unix-like operating systems; but when I do, I prefer FreeBSD.
  7. Re:Secure computer by Eric_Cartman_South_P · · Score: 4, Funny

    Not if it's an Apple computer! Apple computers are not made, they are birthed from the vagina of a mystical creature who has nice tits.

    !?!

  8. Re:Don't ask Slashdot by HD+Webdev · · Score: 4, Funny

    USB is still thrown up in the air. I'm very uncomfortable with it but our client uses it quite often to transfer data.

    Lots of stuff WILL be thrown up in the air if someone connects a USB wireless adapter.

    --
    This is not a dream, not a dream...we are transmitting from the year 1-9-9-9.
  9. Sample of data by Alain+Williams · · Score: 4, Funny

    Please send me a sample of the data that you are trying to keep secret - this will enable me to best work out how to keep it secure ....