You can run that from a USB Drive ? Portable Applications: the good, the bad and the ugly Jeff Gimbel © 2007

USB Drives

Portable Applications A portable application, or portable app for short, is a software program that does not require any kind of formal installation onto a computer's permanent storage device to be executed, and can be stored on a removable storage device such as a CD- ROM, USB flash drive, flash card, or even a floppy disk, enabling it to be used on multiple computers.

Portable Applications ● Applications that run on a portable memory device ● Desktop Virtualization Software ● Operating System on a portable device

Applications that run on a portable memory device: There are hundreds of applications that can be run off a portable memory device. These apps will run from the memory device with little or no trace on the computer used.

Applications that run on a portable memory device: They can be found in suites of applications like: U3 Portable Applications

Applications that run on a portable memory device: U3 Software that includes: Browser (Opera, Firefox, Maxthon) (Thunderbird) IM software (Trillian) Office suites (Open Office)

Applications that run on a portable memory device: Portable Apps suite Free software that includes: Browser (Firefox) (Thunderbird) IM software (Pidgin) Office suites (Open Office)

Applications that run on a portable memory device: Other Software: Webservers Web Page developing applications Image editors Games Media Players Encryption Software

Applications that run on a portable memory device: ● Pros for the End User  Portability  Security  Privacy ● Cons for the End User  Computer Security Settings may inhibit access  Slower Access

Applications that run on a portable memory device: ● Pros for the Admin  Portability  Security  Privacy ● Cons for the Admin  Because of the pros, nefarious users will use these applications with little fear of being caught  Very little Tracking

Applications that run on a portable memory device: Detection: The Windows Registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR Files on the computer Missing Web browsing history

Applications that run on a portable memory device: Protection in Labs: Only allow User Access Disable boot from USB Password Protect the BIOS

Desktop Virtualization Software: Ceedo MojoPac

Desktop Virtualization Software: From Ceedo Technologies (2005), Ltd. is a virtualization software company headquartered in Israel with offices in Silicon Valley. Our patent pending approach to virtualizing the Windows™ desktop environment enables our customers to carry their PC-based work environment on portable devices such as USB flash drives, pocket hard drives, network drives and even mobile phones.

Desktop Virtualization Software: From MojoPac is a technology that transforms your iPod or USB Hard Drive or Flash drive into a portable and private PC. Just install MojoPac on any USB 2.0 compliant storage device, upload your applications and files, modify your user settings and environment preferences, and take it with you everywhere.

Desktop Virtualization Software: ● Pros for the End User  Portability  Security  Privacy  Windows Application ● Cons for the End User  Computer Security Settings may inhibit access  Slower Access  Requires Admin Access

Desktop Virtualization Software: ● Pros for the Admin  Portability  Security  Privacy  Windows Application ● Cons for the Admin  No Tracking  Any Windows Applications can be installed

Desktop Virtualization Software: Detection: The Windows Registry HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Enum\USBSTOR Missing Web browsing history

Desktop Virtualization Software: Protection in Labs: Only allow User Access Disable boot from USB Password Protect the BIOS

Operating System on a portable device: There are several Operating Systems that can be installed on CD, DVD, USB, or Firewire device that can boot the computer and run. Most Linux distributions now have what are called Live Install software, full operating systems on CD, or DVD

Operating System on a portable device: Newer computers can boot from a USB device. This allows for one to install Windows or Linux on a USB memory device

Operating System on a portable device: Operating Systems such as Damn Small Linux can run on a USB device as small as 128 MB. Most linux operating systems have live install CDs that run the Operating System directly off a CD There are sites devoted to running Windows XP Pro and Apple Macintosh off a USB device

Operating System on a portable device: ● Pros for the End User  Portability  Security  Privacy  Custom Setup ● Cons for the End User  Boot settings may prevent the OS from booting  Considerable configuration

Operating System on a portable device: ● Pros for the Admin  Portability  Security  Privacy ● Cons for the Admin  No Tracking

Operating System on a portable device: Detection: Missing Web browsing history

Operating System on a portable device: Protection in Labs: Password Protect the BIOS Disable boot from USB or CD Rom