How secure is your farm computer?

[melvill]

farmers_son, great ideas on the USB hard drives as a way to protect your info from a crash or fire. I'd like to convince farm managers to just use one external drive to begin with. That's one more than many use now. One thing I wonder about, though. My understanding is that computer or software passwords are stored in an encrypted form on the internal hard drive, so putting a password protected drive in another computer to access it doesn't work.

Boarderbloke, I agree that most farm homes aren't 'protected' by proximity to other homes so the 'hammer through the picture window' access is a possible issue. Guess that's why security systems are just beginning to be installed. I agree that encryption of drive data for important files is important.

That's why the canola data loss strikes me. Yes, someone got away with the computer but I wonder if anyone but the most sophisticated thief/techie will be able to get at the data. There's more info on the security at:
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/06/05/canola-information.html

[AdamSmith]

The best farm security I could have ever wished for was a German Shepard cross that died of old age this spring (may he rest in peace),

he's since been replaced by a 2008 model German Shepard that won't offer the kind of, scare the sh!t out of strangers, protection my previous security dog offered for a few more months yet.

[dalek]

I have a hotmail account I use just for backing up my book-keeping. I know hotmail security kinda sucks too but I don't put any account numbers or identifiers in it anyway so it's just numbers.

[parsley]

Thinking about the internet and how farmers have to/are learning to communicate effectively.


1. From this website:

http://www.newstalk650.com/incoming/20080605/personal-information-stolen-canola-growers-association-office


comes the following quote:

"CCGA President Brian Chorney says the reason they waited five weeks to tell producers is because specific passwords would be needed to access the information on the laptop."

Do you suppose he has ever heard of the word "hacking"?


2. From the website:

http://www.pembinavalleyonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7316&Ite mid=313

The quote you can all feel confident about!:

"General Manager Rick White notes the theft did not occur at the CCGA office so it was not a targeted theft of farmer data."

The laptop was sent out of the office. Assume it's routine procedure. Nice to know some computer geek has access to 32,000 financial records in his basment for a few nights. Can you Feeeeeeel the confidence building?



3. From the website:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2008/06/05/canola-information.html?ref=rss

I just got that warm fuzzy feeling reading it. Betcha a person could sell the low-risk information for thirty grand:

"We treat this very seriously," White said. "This is an unfortunate incident, a very low-risk one."
The laptop was stolen when a programmer working for the Canadian Canola Growers Association took the machine off-site for routine maintenance."


btw, When's the most convincing time to get someone to hand in a resignation?

1. During.....

a)Morning
or
b)Afternoon
or
c) Evening?



2. Before.....

a)coffee?
or
b)green tea?
or
c)stiff drink of scotch?


3. After....

a)Being tied to the underside of a billgoat following being kicked in the ass 32,000 times?
or

b)Pockets filled with rats, person tied up, placed standing into a canvass bag,and left in water up to the neck for two days?
or

c)Being Spoon-fed an entire bottle of castoria and then hanging upside down in a closet of snakes?



Parsley