Government shuts door after 25 million data horses bolt
Best practice after the fact
Friday, 7 December 2007, 14:16
PEOPLE THAT WORK for Revenue & Customs have had access to removable media disabled, according to government rep Jane Kennedy.
She answered a question from an MP who asked if CD burners would now be banned in the tax department.
She said that desktops and laptops can't now read CDs, floppies, USB sticks and memory card devices now.
They can only use them now with the authorisation of a director, "or the senior member of staff responsible for data transfer in the appropriate business area".
Hansard. And here's a separate question asked of the Department for Innovation. Answer comes there none. Really. ยต
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No mention of WiFi?

No mention of iPhone?

Is this an example of security via Araldite in the socket or have they just removed drivers?
Pen and paper also banned..
...just disabled in Microsoft Windows? If the latter, then the BIOS can be worked around easily I'm pretty sure I could find a computer in that place where a Linux LiveCD would not only bypass all their passwords but also unlock all I/O devices.
I think it's disabled in the sense that people don't haphazardly copy. not in the sense of a secure lock, and is probably using the windows policy system.

I'm sure they assume that they can trust adult employees to not jump through hoops to bypass it by messing with the hardware.

It's still somewhat pointless since the missing CDs were authorized I understand, or would have been, but it reduces the risks somewhat I guess.
I know of another ahem 'Government establishment' where the USB keys are security sealed with Araldite........except for the one which is left unsealed for the USB keyboard. 

Hot swap anyone?