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Department of Defense Now Blocking HTML Email
oKAMi-InfoSec writes "The Department of Defense (DoD) has taken the step of blocking HTML-based email. They are also banning the use of Outlook Web Access email clients. The DoD is making this move because HTML messages can easily be infected with spyware and executable lines of code that enable hackers to access DoD networks, according to an article in Federal Computer Week by Bob Brewin . A spokesman for the Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO) claims that this is a response to an increased network threat condition. The network threat condition has risen from Information Condition 5 to Information Condition 4 (also called Infocon 4). InfoCon 5 is normal operating conditions and Infocon 4 comes as a result of 'continuing and sophisticated threats' against DoD Networks. The change to Infocon 4 came in mid-November, after the Naval War College suffered devastating attacks that required their entire system be taken offline, but the JTF-GNO spokesman claims there is no connection."
That's as obvious as the department of homeland security closing the borders!
I applaud the effort, but why did they take so long to wise up even this much?
Lynx.
Get rid of IE.
As long as stupid users dictate policy (and it always seems to be the most idiotic, uninformed, timetable pounding and ego-blinded of all users usually are in the upper echelons of an organization), security problems do to software choice will prevail. This is how microsnot products usually get pushed into an organization. Score one for the DoD getting rid of freaking html-mail and outhouse web access. One can only hope they s**tcan ms-exchange while they're at it.
Email should be just text, period.
In my day email was dashes and dots, and we liked it that way.
"If you think you have things under control, you're not going fast enough." --Mario Andretti
But I just finished writing this inspirational xmas email in 32-point Comic Sans font with animated gifs of kittens and reindeer and attached 30-meg screensaver that I was going to sent to Everyone@dod.gov
I think that you have
the only losers are the people who send those annoying Flash giftcards through email
Don't worry, they were already losers!
In the free world the media isn't government run; the government is media run.
Especially since each one cost eight bits to send. ;)
From: Donald Rumsfield
To: General Whosit
Subject: My final Orders
This email contains a computer trogan.
You are so pwned!!!
Sincerely
Osama Bin Ladin.
____
Yeah... Typos are on purpose
Sometimes boldness is in fashion. Sometimes only the brave will be bold.
Dashes? You had dashes? You had it easy. We only had dots. And we liked it!
didadidit dadada didadidit