[CS-FSLUG] Windows XP restrictions & exploits

[N. Thompson]

Josiah Ritchie wrote:

>:-) Yeah, maybe we need to intro them to virus software, ghost and perhaps
>ad-aware. While were at it, firefox and thunderbird would be a nice
>addition. Sounds like the tech guy either has a cushy job, way to much on
>his plate, or just doesn't know what he's doing. I'm going to guess the 2nd
>as that is not uncommon, IMHO. Kinda feel for the guy.
>
>  
>

There are three main computer rooms in the school each with probably 
between 30 and 40 computers running completely locked down versions of 
Windows XP, then there are 12 computer in the library and aside from 
that the rest of the computers are strictly for use by the staff only. 
The computer tech is not the same as the computer science teacher.

>What is the structure there? How is the professor teaching programming
>related to the rest of the school, part-time prof or the same guy who runs
>everything? I'm having trouble seeing how anything could run at all as
>stated.
>
>  
>

I don't know how he's teaching it, any executable file format has been 
completely locked out unless it is being run from C:\Program Files\ or 
C:\Windows\ . My guess is that only computer science students get to run 
exe files from their personal folders and even then a naming convention 
for the exe's is to be observed so they can run. Unfortunately I'm not 
in computer science until next semester so I'm going to have to hunt 
down the computer tech and ask either for some sort of access to run my 
program or if I can use a Knoppix LiveCD or SAM Linux/MandrakeMove on 
one of the computers for the demonstration in which case the overhead 
projector is not guaranteed to work.

>If you have enough programming types, maybe you could start a school LUG.
>Once organized, you might have a voice to present changes and offer to
>help the school out. Definately try to be the benevolent assisters rather
>than the discgruntled fiends in the eye of the administration.
>
>  
>

I've helped lots of kids with their homework in the library when they 
were having trouble with MS Word so at least a few kids there know I 
have a pretty good idea what I'm talking about when it comes to 
computers, but unfortunately there are very few of them who actually 
know what Linux is and when I was looking for the school computer tech 
everyone wanted to know what Linux was.

>JSR/
>
>On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 10:35:50 -0400
>Don Parris <gnumathetes at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>I don't have any suggestions on this, just wanted to say I really hate
>>it for you!  What kind of school has you write computer programs that
>>you cannot then run???  I recognize the need for security, but this
>>seems rather sad in my view.
>>
>>Don
>>
>>
>>On Wed, 29 Sep 2004 23:25:40 -0600, N. Thompson <n.thomp at sasktel.net>
>>wrote:
>>    
>>
>>>On September 29, 2004 07:44 pm, Bradly McConnell wrote:
>>>      
>>>
>>>>>I know it's generally considered a despicable option, but what
>>>>>about writing the crypto app in JAVA and running it in a browser?
>>>>>ASP.NET? Or perhaps even a macro for Word?
>>>>>          
>>>>>
>>>>Sounds like the word option would probably be blocked too.
>>>>If you go the java route, make sure you have an idea what version is
>>>>on the computer you will present it on - Sun or Microsofts VM.
>>>>        
>>>>
>>>I agree that word macros would probably be disabled, I do not know how
>>>to write Java applets though since requires a knowledge of the awt
>>>toolkit and I've always used swing, its also likely that Java plugins
>>>in IE would be disabled since the school doesn't want kids to play
>>>games on their computers.
>>>
>>>I'm going to see whether I will be able to persuade them into letting
>>>my use a Live CD distribution although I'm not likely to get
>>>permission.
>>>      
>>>
>
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