Re: S/key on university, college desktops

[Dennis Hoshield]

Mark ...
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 Dennis Hoshield - Assistant System Operator - North Central Michigan College 
       1515 Howard St. -- Petoskey -- Michigan -- 49770   (616) 348-6615
                  dhosh@sunny.ncmc.cc.mi.us    (ka8hgs)  
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Note ... .these thoughts are my own, and not necessarilly those of the
establishment or administration for which I work ...

On Mon, 8 Jun 1998, Mark Richardson Knox wrote:

> Since I started as an Internet Consultant for Merit, I've travelled,
> representing Merit, to various affiliate and member sites that are
> institutions (colleges, universities) that have some sort of "public"
> access to the Internet on PC's in their libraries, labs and other places
> where a "public" terminal might be.
> 
> I say public in quotes because clearly, what is public access has narrowed
> greatly at most of these sites.  Access has narrowed largely to someone who
> is a member of that institution.  The access validation is done by some
> authentication scheme and usually the desktop is locked tight--no
> downloads, in some cases no A: drive access, etc.  The web is available
> and, in some cases, so is telnet.
> 
> I could use a laptop and dial in to MichNet.
> 
> Thoughts?  Flames?
> 
I would expect that most 'public' machines are locked down to keep
unwanted software off the system, and to have control as to what the
patron is doing.  These sites, are after all, reponsible for most
everything that happens on their local network, and it is impossible (and
perhaps somewhat privacy-infringing) to monitor all the workstations at at
ime.  We lock ours down so the machine will be available for the work it
is intended (library research) for the greatest amount of time.  That
means, if we didn't put the software there, you don't run it.  If you have
access to your computer, or other machines in the way you discuss, most
library floor workers couldn't really tell if you were doining anything
improper or not.  It's safer to lock you out.  

HOWEVER ... your idea of a laptop is a bit better .... It might be easier
and simpler all the way around, to have network and modem access to the
internet available for 'floaters' such as you.  Very few times have I
ever heard of someone comming into our little library and asking to access
their machines in this fashion ... but it would be nice to put such
connections in a secure place where the user could connect.  

Better security is what I would imagine most library administrators are
looking for .. not necessarilly more access options.

Good luck!

Dennis Hoshield
NCnet sysop