security breach by XP system with 98 network

  • Thread starter Thread starter Stephanie
  • Start date Start date
S

Stephanie

I've been bringing my XP laptop to school. I plug it in
and log on with my school issued username and password.
This enables me to access my files which are stored on
the district server and access other areas to which I
have permission to go. This has worked fine for almost a
year. Suddenly the admin has created a policy which
states that non school issued equipment may not be used
to access the network. They maintain that XP poses a
security risk with the 98 network. They aren't terribly
knowledgeable and technology is hit or miss in our
district. I insist that using my laptop helps me do my
job, frees up limited resources for students, etc. Does
it really pose an additional security risk? I need
ammunition for my meeting with the tech guy tomorrow.
 
A lot of networks don't want outside computers plugged in for security
reasons. Viruses, trojans, etc - Others don't want sensitive corporate data
getting copied down (unlikely to be the case for you). So I do understand
where the admins are coming from.

However, given that you say they're running Win98, I have to wonder whether
security is actually on their minds at all. Win9x/ME is inherently insecure.
Anyone with a lick of sense won't use "Windows 98" and "security" in the
same sentence. You might want to bring that up....
 
What is the difference between the security risk posed by
laptops that the district provides to staff that they
bring home and use in other places and then plug in to
the school network and my system? BTW, the brand new
laptops that they provided are running 98! The issue that
they keep coming back to is the XP OS. Is there an issue?
 
The only issue is with the rationale your systems administrator
used to formulate the school policy. Windows XP is far, far
superior to Windows 98 in terms of inherent security features.

I know some companies that run Windows 95 on new computers
because they lack the knowledge and resources necessary to upgrade their
network to either Windows 2000 or XP Pro!


--
Nicholas

---------------------------------------------------------------------


| What is the difference between the security risk posed by
| laptops that the district provides to staff that they
| bring home and use in other places and then plug in to
| the school network and my system? BTW, the brand new
| laptops that they provided are running 98! The issue that
| they keep coming back to is the XP OS. Is there an issue?
| >-----Original Message-----
| >A lot of networks don't want outside computers plugged
| in for security
| >reasons. Viruses, trojans, etc - Others don't want
| sensitive corporate data
| >getting copied down (unlikely to be the case for you).
| So I do understand
| >where the admins are coming from.
| >
| >However, given that you say they're running Win98, I
| have to wonder whether
| >security is actually on their minds at all. Win9x/ME is
| inherently insecure.
| >Anyone with a lick of sense won't use "Windows 98"
| and "security" in the
| >same sentence. You might want to bring that up....
| >
| >Stephanie wrote:
| >> I've been bringing my XP laptop to school. I plug it in
| >> and log on with my school issued username and password.
| >> This enables me to access my files which are stored on
| >> the district server and access other areas to which I
| >> have permission to go. This has worked fine for almost
| a
| >> year. Suddenly the admin has created a policy which
| >> states that non school issued equipment may not be used
| >> to access the network. They maintain that XP poses a
| >> security risk with the 98 network. They aren't terribly
| >> knowledgeable and technology is hit or miss in our
| >> district. I insist that using my laptop helps me do my
| >> job, frees up limited resources for students, etc. Does
| >> it really pose an additional security risk? I need
| >> ammunition for my meeting with the tech guy tomorrow.
| >
| >
| >.
| >
 
I think we answered this earlier...

They have much broader security issues then just leveling
a finger at XP and claiming that it it.

Until they can tell you what exactly the problem is with
XP, and what security policies are being broken with XP
compared to 98, there's not really a point in us going on
and on about it.

Quite frankly, they have no real clue about their
security design or configuration if they're using Windows
98 as the baseline.
 
Steph.....

To directly answer your question,.....NO there arent any obvious or inherent
security risks in Windows XP.
In fact (agreeing with alot of the others who answered your question),
Windows XP is leaps, bounds and miles more secure than Windows 98.

ALTHOUGH-----(to better argue your point) make sure you've got ALL the
latest service packs and security patches by visiting Microsoft at
http:\\windowsupdate.microsoft.com and click on the "Scan for Updates" near
the center of the page.

ALSO make sure you have a good anti-virus package that has had the virus
definition files updated atleast weekly...

If you want to go the extra mile.....download Ad-Aware (www.lavasoftusa.com)
and make sure you dont have any spyware lurking on your system.


I also agree with what one of the other responders said---probably what they
are most concerned about is people taking their laptops home,
getting infected/hacked by some virus or trojan--then when the staff brings
laptops INSIDE the school network--those virus/trojans are free to spread.
But---if they were really concerned about this---they would immediately
abandon Windows 98 and convert all desktops and laptops to Windows2000 or
XP.
The fact that they are rebuilding systems to Windows 98 is a big tipoff to
me that whomever is running your schools IT dept has no clue what they are
doing.

Oddly I know how you feel. I'm a consultant and just got hired to be the IT
admin for a school district and the majority of all their systems are old
crappy Win98 boxes.
I've accomlished more fixes and updates in the past few weeks than their
other IT people did in years, so hopefully soon they will listen to me and
adopt some of my recommendations.
Of course one of the biggest problems with school districts right now is
their funding keeps getting cut,..so its hard to keep up with the technology
advances.
But on the flipside---not updating --then getting infected or hacked is
much, much more expensive...

Good Luck....

-jmnugent
 
Greetings --

As has already been pointed out, WinXP is far more secure than
Win98 could ever possibly be. I can conceive of no way the WinXP
could possibly pose a security threat to a Win98 network, which
already has no security. The fact that an alleged "network
administrator" can use the words "Windows 98" and "security" in the
same sentence without laughing, blushing, or hanging his.her head in
shame is proof positive that he/she belongs in another career field --
something to do with funny hats, counters, and french fries.

However, the bottom line is that the school's network is the
property and responsibility of your employer. This means that the
employer gets to set the rules. You get to abide by those rules, or
seek employment elsewhere. It really doesn't matter how technically
unfounded and unsupportable or how abysmally stupid those rules are.


Bruce Chambers

--
Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. -- RAH
 
I say show the people Bruce's Post, and mention that MS has made him an MVP
(Most Valuable Professional)

--
Check out http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com for amazing tweaks and fixes

Member of "Newsgroups are for everyone"

5 Steps to computer safety:
1) Use a good quality anti-virus, and keep it up-to-date.
2) Use a firewall. The one in XP works fine, but there are better ones out
there.
3) Keep Windows up-to-date. It's your choice whether or not you want the
recommended updates, but the critical updates are just that - critical.
4) Beware of adware and spyware. There are many programs that will help to
protect your computer, but it's up to you to prevent it as well. Make sure
you read the agreement of the software before you install it. It should
tell you if it will be installing any additional programs.
5) Be cautious of attachments. Microsoft NEVER sends out attachments via
email. Always scan all attachments before opening them.

Email address is fake to prevent SPAM.
Real email address is pcyr2000 AT hotmail DOT com
Change the obvious to the obvious.
------------------
 
Bruce said:
Greetings --
Click to expand...
The fact that an alleged "network
administrator" can use the words "Windows 98" and "security" in the
same sentence without laughing, blushing, or hanging his.her head in
shame is proof positive that he/she belongs in another career field --
something to do with funny hats, counters, and french fries.
Click to expand...

Or, as someone I know says,

....the exciting field of "Turf Height Modification and Management"
 
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