Will Apple ban iPods?

In a recent Network World article, Cara Garretson talks about a new "proof of concept" iPod virus (which is very harmless - but it proves the point that it is possible for an iPod to carry a virus). The issue at hand is, of course, the iPod's ability to serve as a portable drive which can potentially deliver malicious code.

I remember reading about how Samsung banned its own cell phone in the production plant (because of the phone's ability to take pictures and email them) so I wonder will mp3 player manufacturers like Apple ban their own players?

The answer isn't banning the device, but in securing the end point, for both eliminating the introduction of malicious software, but also the stealing of company information (80GB is a ton of information, folks!).

The answer is the policy-driven securing of end-point devices. Desktop Authority's USB & Port security option is a good example of how this can be accomplished.


With over 20 device types supported, this option to Desktop Authority ensures secure end points. But because it also touts a granular permissions model that can deny access as well as allow read-only or read/write access, users can be allowed to access those devices that are required to accomplish their work (such as making a CD Burner function like a CD-ROM drive so data can be read from a CD), which raises user productivity.

Desktop Authority - Security with Productivity.