Windows Vista Security For Dummies®

Chapter 15. Restricting the Use of Removable Media (And More)

In This Chapter

• Understanding the security risks of removable media

• Protecting your machine when using removable media

• Protecting the data on removable media

• Using the Vista Device Control features to restrict the use of removable media

Removable media is a general term that applies to all types of data storage mechanisms that you can easily remove from your computer, including recordable CD/DVDs, USB drives, iPods, and external hard drives. Vista is designed to protect your data from getting in the wrong hands through all the measures described in this book (and even some that aren't). However, Vista doesn't control removable media the same way it does your hard drive or other installed devices. Therefore, your responsibility is to figure out how to protect both your machine and your data when you use any type of removable media.

In this chapter, I describe the risks associated with using removable media and offer ways how you can protect yourself against these risks.

Removable Media and Associated Security Risks

Removable media allows you to transfer data easily from one device to another. Attaching removable media to your machine allows you to copy the data stored on that media but inherently brings risks associated with allowing data to come onto your computer. Detaching removable media from your machine allows you to store that data as a backup or to give it to someone else for their use; however, you now have to worry about ...