Guest Gareth Posted November 1, 2008 Posted November 1, 2008 I'm probably missing something here but if someone could explain it would be much appreciated. I notice that if I plug a SD card containing digital camera produced files in to a card reader connected to Vista via USB I am invited via autoplay to allow "Windows to view pictures". I didn't give any permission to Vista to broadcast the fact that the (protected) SD card contains photos and yet it does so - all another user has to do to trigger the invitation is unplug and plug the card reader. There's no way I can see for me to prevent other users from knowing that the SD card contains pictures. So basically Vista is not just detecting the hardware (the card reader and arguably the card) but it is also actively accessing the file signatures of files on the SD card. This is surely a concern? Quote
Guest Mick Murphy Posted November 1, 2008 Posted November 1, 2008 Disallow Autorun. And you are plugging in a Card READER, lol. Mad Mike "Gareth" wrote: <span style="color:blue"> > I'm probably missing something here but if someone could explain it would be > much appreciated. > > I notice that if I plug a SD card containing digital camera produced files > in to a card reader connected to Vista via USB I am invited via autoplay to > allow "Windows to view pictures". > > I didn't give any permission to Vista to broadcast the fact that the > (protected) SD card contains photos and yet it does so - all another user > has to do to trigger the invitation is unplug and plug the card reader. > There's no way I can see for me to prevent other users from knowing that the > SD card contains pictures. > > So basically Vista is not just detecting the hardware (the card reader and > arguably the card) but it is also actively accessing the file signatures of > files on the SD card. This is surely a concern? > > > > > </span> Quote
Guest Gareth Posted November 1, 2008 Posted November 1, 2008 "Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:50F9E9C6-6CEC-4A92-9125-3301DCD905C2@microsoft.com...<span style="color:blue"> > Disallow Autorun. > And you are plugging in a Card READER, lol.</span> Other users can enable Autorun and plug in my card reader. The point is Vista is looking at the file types on the card - there's no way (is there?) of disallowing non user prompted access to the SD card. This didn't happen with XP or Win 9X. It's worrying. Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted November 2, 2008 Posted November 2, 2008 Gareth wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > I'm probably missing something here but if someone could explain it > would be much appreciated. > > I notice that if I plug a SD card containing digital camera produced > files in to a card reader connected to Vista via USB I am invited via > autoplay to allow "Windows to view pictures". > > I didn't give any permission to Vista to broadcast the fact that the > (protected) SD card contains photos and yet it does so - all another > user has to do to trigger the invitation is unplug and plug the card > reader. There's no way I can see for me to prevent other users from > knowing that the SD card contains pictures. > > So basically Vista is not just detecting the hardware (the card reader > and arguably the card) but it is also actively accessing the file > signatures of files on the SD card. This is surely a concern? > > > > </span> First of all, Vista is doing exactly as one would expect it to do when inserting an SD card. If you don't want this default activity, disable auto-play. Secondly, if you're concerned about others accessing your "private" pictures on that SD card, don't leave it lying about where others can get their hands on it. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
Guest Bruce Chambers Posted November 2, 2008 Posted November 2, 2008 Gareth wrote:<span style="color:blue"> > > > "Mick Murphy" <MickMurphy@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message > news:50F9E9C6-6CEC-4A92-9125-3301DCD905C2@microsoft.com...<span style="color:green"> >> Disallow Autorun. >> And you are plugging in a Card READER, lol.</span> > > Other users can enable Autorun and plug in my card reader. </span> If you're so concerned for your privacy, why have you granted other administrative privileges to your computer, and why are you leaving your card reader and your SD card unsecured? <span style="color:blue"> > The point > is Vista is looking at the file types on the card - there's no way (is > there?) of disallowing non user prompted access to the SD card.</span> You've been told how. <span style="color:blue"> > This > didn't happen with XP or Win 9X.</span> It did if one had the proper drivers installed and auto-play enabled. <span style="color:blue"> > It's worrying. > </span> What's really worrying is that you're expecting the OS to protect you from your own sloppy habits of leaving things lying about where curious minds can find them. Software can't protect you from yourself. If the contents of the SD card are so very sensitive, simply put it out of others reach. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot Quote
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