Reducing The Negative Impact of Laptops

Mark Brunelli wrote to mention a SearchEnterpriseLinux column about reducing the negative impact laptops can have on a network's security. From the article: "Portable computers often become an extension of the person using them. It is no surprise that laptop users are inclined to be rather autonomously minded. Many users don't realize that the power they have to install software and change settings is risk prone. Fortunately, larger corporations that install Microsoft Windows XP Professional usually don't grant the laptop user full administrative rights. The same cannot be said of smaller businesses, many of which simply purchase laptops from the local store -- laptops pre-installed with Windows XP Home Edition. "

Comments

Re:Laptops get around too much

[(H)elix1]

Outbreaks were correlated with a particular individual coming back to the office with his laptop after working elsewhere. I think it must be something about the way he uses that system; what sites he goes to, probably; which causes it to be so riddled with viruses.

You would not believe the crap you have to deal with on hotel networks. If anyone is counting on the firewalls keep the network clean, guess again. This has to be at the machine level, each one an island. I keep the shield up on my laptop and (knock on wood) have yet to have an issue - but most of the broad band connections your typical road warrior deals with is a cesspool of worms, viruses, and other such nasties.

I locked my sister's kids out of windows XP Home..

[kesuki]

Just by adding a second account in the control panel, and changing the (default) administrator account to have a relatively secure password.

Since when does having windows XP Home edition prevent you from adding multiple users, some of them restricted users who can't install software? is it because you only know how to use XP pro's tools to manage security? you don't know how to lock down IE with the help of a few simple freeware utilities you can download off the internet ;)

I don't get it :) why do small businesses need to buy XP pro when XP home has enough of the features to do everything that is 'easier' to do in XP Pro?

If I'm missing some big reason please tell me, other than XP pro costs at least $120 more (oem pricing) why someone needs to run Pro to do something i did on XP home just last weekend...