Flash Memory is a security threat, let's blame Microsoft?

Michael Gartenberg | August 26, 2003, 06:48 AM

This just in, flash memory devices are a security risk. Let me also be the first to tell you that tomorrow morning, the sun will also probably rise. These issues aren’t new, since the early days of the PC computing, removable storage has always been a security issue. It’s just that we grew complacent as file sizes exceeded floppy capacities, the security hole has been ignored. With flash devices of all size easily exceeding a gigabyte in capacity, the ability for a disgruntled employee or thief to walk off with confidential and valuable data is staggering.

My favorite part of the story; “Louis Oley, managing director of SecureWave, a company that specializes in intrusion prevention software, said Thursday that he blames Microsoft for failing to provide tools within Windows 2000 and XP to effectively manage and control this type of product.” Of course that’s answer, blame Microsoft. How about focusing on the IT managers that do not use policy management on their systems or perhaps focusing on users that leave critical data lying around with easy access.

It’s time to start educating folks about the TRUE cost of their systems. I’m not referring to some TCO number but rather the cost of the data that they are entrusted with. I recently was asked to leave my laptop before meeting with a company and was asked what the value of my system was. I wrote down $2,000,000 as the estimated value. When asked if my laptop really cost that much, I said, forget the laptop, that’s what the data is worth. How much does your computer cost? What are you doing to protect it?