Why does the DOD severely restrict the use of flash drives?

Why does the DOD severely restrict the use of flash drives?

The ban was issued in November 2008 after a virus was found to be spreading through military networks by copying itself from one removable drive to another. The ban covered all forms of USB flash media, such as thumb drives, memory sticks and cards, and camera memory cards, as well as some other removable media.

Can you use a flash drive on a government computer?

The rules are clear: USB flash drive devices are not authorized to be connected to government computers and with good reason. “Malicious code can be stored on a device straight from the factory and USB devices can easily introduce viruses into a computer network,” Bryan said.

How do I stop someone from using my USB storage device?

If a USB storage device is not already installed on the computer

1. Start Windows Explorer, and then locate the \%SystemRoot\%\Inf folder.
2. Right-click the Usbstor.
3. Click the Security tab.
4. In the Group or user names list, add the user or group that you want to set Deny permissions for.

When can you use removable media on a government system?

The emergency use of removable media will be permitted only on Defense Department computers that are in full compliance and possess the necessary hardware required to transfer the data safely. These requirements include using approved procedures and hardware to prevent unauthorized use.

Which of the following is an example of removable media?

Removable media and devices include: Optical Discs (Blu-Ray discs, DVDS, CD-ROMs) Memory Cards (Compact Flash card, Secure Digital card, Memory Stick) Zip Disks/ Floppy disks. USB flash drives.

What can you plug into a government computer?

USB mouse, wireless mice, USB Keyboard, USB CAC reader, video cables, Ethernet cable, and monitors without any capability to record and/or store information are authorized. Any equipment that has the capability to hold information (record, store, etc.), such as external hard drives, must be approved for use.

How do I block USB storage devices through group policy?

Open the Group Policy Management Console (gpmc. msc). Right-click on the organizational unit (OU) you want to apply the policy to and click Create a GPO in this domain, and Link it here. Enter a name for the policy (e.g. Block USB Devices) and click OK.

How do I block USB from group policy?

To do this, open the the Group Policy Management Console (GPMC), right click the USB blocking GPO under the OU and uncheck the option “Link Enabled”.

What are some examples of removable media?

Removable Media

• USB memory sticks.
• External hard drives.
• CDs.
• DVDs.
• Mobile phones and tablet devices.

Which is a risk associated with removable media?

Media failure—Despite its low cost and convenience, removable media is inherently risky. This is because many devices have short life spans and can fail without warning. As such, if a device fails and your organization doesn’t have the files backed up, you could lose key files and data.

Is a cell phone a removable media?

Memory Cards Popular consumer devices like cellular phones and portable MP3 or video players often contain internal flash memory in the form of a memory card. According to Microsoft, common types of removable media products include Compact Flash, ATA Flash, Secure Digital (SD), and Multimedia Card (MMC).

Does the Air Force have a policy on USB flash drives?

The Air Force’s USB flash drive policy has been in effect since February 2009. Nevertheless, individuals continue to plug unapproved devices into government computers daily. If a device isn’t properly labeled, it shouldn’t be connected to a government computer or printer.

What kind of devices are banned from military networks?

The ban includes memory sticks, thumb drives and camera flash memory cards, according to the Marine Corps directive. External hard disk drives are not included in the ban. Butterbaugh said DOD’s Global Information Grid includes more than 17,000 local- and regional-area networks and approximately 7 million individual computers.

What is the Marine Corps ban on USB flash drives for?

The worm seriously degrades computer performance by copying itself to multiple programs. The ban includes memory sticks, thumb drives and camera flash memory cards, according to the Marine Corps directive. External hard disk drives are not included in the ban.

Can USB flash drives be connected to government computers?

The rules are clear: USB flash drive devices are not authorized to be connected to government computers and with good reason. “Malicious code can be stored on a device straight from the factory and USB devices can easily introduce viruses into a computer network,” Bryan said.