Portable Apps

[pcprofessor]

Anybody come across "Portable Apps" (portableapps.com). It seems that you can run these apps from a USB device and they don't leave any trace on the machine. You can run for example Firefox with all your own bookmarks. There are quite a few apps available even now (including a full OpenOffice.org, NVU, Filezilla, Thunderbird, Gaim....), with more on the way - including "operating systems" according to the info on the site. What are the implications for "secure" networks? My nephew apparently uses them all the time at school.

[ajbritton]

I believe there is a new standard being defined for this sort of thing. Some USB keys are already available and certified to this standard, but the name of it escapes me...

[ChrisH]

.... and these are the reason you need to make sure you prevent Exe files etc being able to run from such devices.

[Norphy]

Indeed. Software Restriction Policies are your friend in this case.

[tosca925]

.... and these are the reason you need to make sure you prevent Exe files etc being able to run from such devices.

Give us a quick example how you would stop this happening Chris.

I guess i know he answer but i want to check i am doing the same as others?

[Norphy]

Well, I'd set up a software restriction policy which only allows you to run applications in the Program Files or other approved directories.