Local Security Software?

[palad]

I'm doing some pro bono work setting up 3 new systems at a research library, and the head of the library is wanting restricted access on them. Unfortunately, the software they are using won't run well under anything other than 95/98. Does anyone have any experiece with local security software? I'm not worried about firewall or internet security software, as these systems aren't even going to be connected to a phone jack for the forseeable future.

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Anibus]

Use NT4 with NTFS. Use permissions.

 

[palad]

Um...


<< Unfortunately, the software they are using won't run well under anything other than 95/98. >>



This software is barely out of DOS, and we were lucky to get it running on 95/98. Besides, they already have 98 and don't have funds to go to NT even if we were sure the software could handle it.

 

[Ladi]

Define &quot;local security software&quot; -- what do you want to restrict? from who?

Have you looked into policy editor <poledit.exe>?

~Ladi

 

[jaywallen]

I just finished evaluating some security solutions for standalone Win95/98 systems for use in a corporate production floor environment where the systems get hammered by all kinds of people, some of whom definitely know enough to be dangerous. The winner was a software package called Full Control by Bardon Data Systems, http://www.bardon.com/index.htm. It leaves the desktop and menu system with the appearance of normality, but really locks out all sorts of problem issues like right-click context menus in open file dialogs. If you set it to &quot;strict&quot; security, then NOTHING except what the administrator specifies, can be run. It can be set to prevent booting into safe mode, and this feature, when combined with BIOS setup password protection with the BIOS set up to boot preferentially from the hard drive, can ensure that no one can do an end run around the protection. Can also restrict access to CD / floppy. There's an alternative named WinU from the same source which alters the Windows desktop appearance to a kiosk-style desktop. It has the same protection features.

Hope this is helpful.

Regards,
Jim

 

[Homer]

That should help Palad, &amp; definitely helps me.

Thanks.

 

[jaywallen]

Good! I'm glad the info might be helpful, Homer.

I wasn't too thrilled about trying to make standalone Win9X boxes &quot;secure&quot;, but the client insisted. The Bardon Data Systems stuff was a really lucky find for me. I sifted through a lot of junky stuff to find that little gem. The company did suffer one recent setback when someone published their password encryption key on some Usenet groups, but they immediately issued an update to take care of the matter. Anyway, that's not the sort of exposure to which I would expect the average library computer to fall victim. So it may suit palad's purposes.

Regards,
Jim

 

[palad]

Great, thanks. I'm taking a look at the eval copy of Full COntrol now, as well as looking at one called Fortres, but all I know about it is that the techs around here curse it every time they run into it. Thanks for the info.

 

[jaywallen]

Yerwelkum! Hope you find something that does the job for you!



Regards,
Jim