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Protecting Hard Drive


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#1
desoto71052

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How can you stop patrons/guest from saving to the hard drive. Too many pictures and documents are getting saved to public computers.
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#2
Neil Jones

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I don't think its possible locally.
If the machine's on a domain where everything's stored on a domain server then permission wise it should be possible.
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#3
desoto71052

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I am not sure if the netork and servers have been mapped that far.
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#4
PedroDaGR8

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Check this out.

http://www.microsoft...t.mspx#Restrict

It is Microsoft SteadyState. It allows you to lock down the computer in various ways.

I think my university library uses this. On a reboot it resets the hard drive to a preset image. So all downloaded and saved files disappear.
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#5
desoto71052

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That's great. I'm working on this for a library.
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#6
PedroDaGR8

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Just make sure you notify users that stuff saved on the computer will be deleted, so they need to save it elsewhere. Our university has it written on the desktop.
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#7
desoto71052

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There are two foot signs saying "Don't save to C:" so forget'em. The patron computers aren't saved to a domain or server, so I'm going to try SteadyState and a few other options. Gang material and porn are big problems now that school is out.
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#8
PedroDaGR8

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There are two foot signs saying "Don't save to C:" so forget'em. The patron computers aren't saved to a domain or server, so I'm going to try SteadyState and a few other options. Gang material and porn are big problems now that school is out.

Have you thought about filtering options like OpenDNS, which blocks sites at the DNS level. You can block various categories of sites you so desire. Best thing is, its free and easy to setup.

http://www.opendns.c.../k12/filtering/
See some of the categories you can block here.

Edited by PedroDaGR8, 26 May 2009 - 01:08 PM.

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#9
desoto71052

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Most of the images are downloaded/saved from myspace sites. We've blocked myspace in the past, but recieved complaints. Just basically need to stop them from saving to C: They have floppy and jump for sale.
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#10
PedroDaGR8

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Fair enough, I think steadystate should really help you out. I would still look at blocking adult sites and the like if you so desire. I know some libraries are loath to block sites based on it is censorship. Steadystate though should mitigate the problems you mentioned.
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#11
desoto71052

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I do appreciate it. Most adult sites have been blocked. As always, someone finds a loophole but thet are usually dealt with quick. The gang related pictures and material being saved is a problem. Especially with underage kids holding handguns. We have to notify parents and police. This is too much for a small rural library system. If we can stop the saving, we can stop a lot of other problems.
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#12
PedroDaGR8

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One option is you can block photohosting websites. They would have access to myspace, but if the photos were hosted on say photobucket etc. They would not show up. Just an additional option for you if SteadyState proves to be not sufficient.

Cheers and good luck. I don't envy your position one bit.
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#13
desoto71052

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i'm just the youngest person in the Library system. I'm working for the Police Jury, with a degree in History and English. I was backed into this job, but I'm having fun deleting porn all day.
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#14
PedroDaGR8

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Hahaha. I administer my fathers offices network, luckily we don't have the problems you do (anyone who doesn't follow procedure gets warned a few times, then fired). We block all proxy servers (used to get around filters), porn, warez, etc. It works well enough for the office, prevents any oops from popping up etc.
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#15
desoto71052

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Being the youngest by half a decade, I don't worry much about the grey heads browsing too much. Most wish that circulation of libraries be done with pen and paper still. Dewey deci system and all. But the kids and computer illiterate patrons can wreck a workstation. When Oprah come out with a free chicken coupon to download off her site, I about cried.
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