[CS-FSLUG] Windows XP restrictions & exploits

[Josiah Ritchie]

On Fri, 01 Oct 2004 08:23:33 -0600
"N. Thompson" <n.thomp at sasktel.net> wrote:

> Josiah Ritchie wrote:
> 
> >On Thu, 30 Sep 2004 15:56:54 -0600
> >"N. Thompson" <n.thomp at sasktel.net> wrote:

> >Maybe he'd like a program we use on our labs here called DeepFreeze.
> >It's pretty popular in schools. The basic idea is that each time the
> >computer is rebooted, it goes back to the state it was in prior to the
> >last start. It is possible to "thaw" a system and make changes, then
> >freeze it again. It also has a number of central management related
> >functions depending on the version you purchase. We've had to make some
> >of our machines ADMINs for all users so that certain old pieces of
> >software would operate on the lab computers. I wouldn't have dreamed of
> >doing this without that software and I'm still a good bit... hesitant,
> >but paranoia is a good thing right?
> >
> I came across that before at one of my old schools, the sysadming did a 
> pretty good job of trying to hide the fact that it was there too, I 
> tried to do a search on it when I saw it in the task manager that pops 
> up when you give windows the three finger salute but I coudn't find any 
> information on it on the internet, probably because the sysasmin blocked 
> the site to keep us from finding out since most of the kids there had 
> fun deleting files in the Corel Wordperfect folder when the teachers 
> weren't looking. Until now I had absolutely no idea what that program
> did.

:-) Glad to provide some insight. I think there is a long-standing reward
for anyone who can crash a computer with this software installed. No one
has done it yet. I bet you could find out the local sales reps contact info
and provide it to your administrators. Just remember, until you build a
reputation with them they will probably dismiss you. I'm like that too
until they email me with lots of details. It's a survival
mechanism. :-)

It has the capability to have a rotating password to "thaw" it so you could
even help out with the install and not have access to the product so if you
offered to donate your time they wouldn't even be giving you abnormal
access after the initial install. That might be a bargaining stick.

> >>>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.
> >
> >Sounds like an excellent way to tell the school about Linux. :-) Keep
> >that up, it might even give you an opportunity to share your faith with
> >them.
> 
> Most of them are already Catholic by tradition, I say by tradition 
> because I don't think serious Christians of any denomination would say 
> the f word as well as many other swear words as often as they do, 
> everywhere I've been in Canada youths on public school seem to have 
> swearing as their first language and english as their second language 
> but hopefully when they get older the swearing will decline and 
> hopefully stop.

I think that's environmentall and part of feeling "grown up". There are
certainly a lot of people who never grow out of it, but you can't expect
the unsaved to act saved can you. I'll say a prayer towards you having both
an opportunity to share your faith through all this and a bit of divine
resistance to getting those words stuck in your head. I know it can be hard
when you hear them frequently not to think them.

JSR/