Symantec Handheld AntiVirus Suite Update

Pilot 1000-->Pilot 5000-->PalmPilot Pro-->IIIe-->Vx-->m505-->T|T-->T|T2-->T|C-->T|T3-->T|T5-->TX

"The 3.5 version also enables customers using Symantec Client Security deployed with the Symantec System Center console to easily install a plug-in to manage configurations and policy enforcement over mobile devices."

Norton Ghost, installed on lab computers, really annoyed me in university, but I am sure that it saved the SysAdmins from a lot of headaches. If I were in IT, I would want a way to set up all deployed handhelds with the same settings. That is what seems to be the real feature of this software.

What are the minimum requirements for PDAs used within the FHWA environment or used to store FHWA data?

The minimum requirements for PDAs used within the FHWA environment or used to store FHWA data are as follows:
(1) PDAs must be approved for use by the FHWA Information Systems Security Officer (ISSO) in HAIM-40.

(2) Anti-virus software must be installed on the PDAs.

(3) PDAs must require a power-on password.

(4) All PDAs must be physically labeled to show that they are FHWA property, and the label must include the appropriate contact information. The user or FHWA Information Technology (IT) representative can provide and apply the label to the PDA. The contact information should include a contact name or office and a contact telephone number, labeled such as the following:

Agency: Federal Highway Administration
Office: xxxx
Phone: xxx-xx-xxxx

(5) Each PDA must have an FHWA bar code attached. The bar code will be provided by the FHWA property management staff at the FHWA site. All PDAs are considered to be sensitive FHWA property items and must be bar coded regardless of their purchase cost.

(6) PDAs must be configured with screen-locking timeouts. After a few minutes of inactivity a password must be required to reactivate the PDA.

(7) Unless otherwise approved by the FHWA ISSO, any PDA wireless capabilities such as Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) and beaming (infrared) or other infrared capabilities must be disabled during use.

( All PDA users must read and sign a PDA Terms and Conditions of Use Agreement, which will be provided by HAIM-40 upon security approval. The user signature on this document will constitute the user's agreement to abide by these terms and conditions.

Additional controls may also be required based on the types of data to be stored on the PDA or the methods in which the PDA will be used to access data or systems. These include, but are not limited to, the following:
(1) PDAs must be equipped with encryption software to encrypt sensitive data.

(2) PDAs must be configured with firewall software that blocks all incoming connection attempts.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/legsregs/directives/orders/137012.htm

So if you want to sell to the feds you need these things, even if unnecessary. There's a lot of money in them there taxes.

Surur

They said I only argued for the sake of arguing, but after an hour I convinced them they were wrong...

Well, I guess if I ever work for the US Gov't in the Federal Highway Administration (apparently a hotbed of political and Homeland Security issues) I'll have to consider installing an AV and Firewall program on my PDA.

;)

And if that was the case, I'd still not consider Norton or McAfee - on desktop or PDA.

Larger organisations (including, I suspect, government agencies) routinely have older desktop computers running older OSs with limited (or non-existent) program updating going on - so the real danger is not from a tech-savvy PDA user who may be trying to connect to a company computer, but the failure of the organisation to keep abreast of the technology. Locking down a network from external threats only goes so far if each individual computer is a weak link.