One of the treasuries of classified material is the Pentagon computer network. It would be a major coup if some foreign nation could penetrate the Pentagon’s computer security. If it is not possible to breach the security to steal vital national information, then a disruption of services (or the possibility to cause that disruption at will) is an advantage beyond measure.

In order to secure the computer network, the Defense Department has initiated some limitations:

“The Defense Department has banned, at least temporarily, the use of external computer flash drives in the Pentagon because of a virus threat that officials detected on defense networks.

While defense officials would not confirm the ban, messages were sent to department employees informing them of the new restrictions. As part of the ban, the Pentagon was collecting any of the small flash drives that were bought or provided to workers by the department, according to one message distributed to employees.”

link: Pentagon virus: Gone in a flash?

This measure to restrict flash drives is commendable. However, would not the same concerns apply to every laptop / notebook that accesses the Defense Department network? Every laptop could be confiscated with exactly the same concerns that apply to the flash drives. The laptops can be compromised and be injecting malware into the computer system. Furthermore, there is no limit to the sensitive defense information that is leaving via laptop computers.

Realistically, for the Defense Department to secure its network, each and every laptop would have to be secured before connecting to the system. And that would be a logistical nightmare.

Catherine Forsythe