I have noticed some recent postings to this list about problems caused by
users messing about with PC and application configurations and also concerns
about the possibility of users intruducing viruses via own disc use or
opening e-mail attachments. This is not in any sense a commercial, but we
have encountered a package which I believe does provide answers to these
problems.
We use a product called PC Bodyguard which seems to provide the complete
answer to the problem.
Basically, you set up Windows and the various other applications which are
available, exactly as you want them - which toolbars appear, screen layout,
launch icons etc. This information is then saved to a card which is
physically slotted into the machine. Once the card is installed, you can
allow total access to Windows and can allow users to configure any settings
as they wish. Switching off and re-booting the PC brings back the original
settings from the card so it does not matter if a previous users has messed
up settings.
PC Bodyguard also handles the virus problem. It does not matter if a virus
is introduced from someone's own disc or from a file download from the
internet. Any virus introduced to the PC, and existing files affected, are
automatically removed after a shutdown and re-boot which again brings back
the previously saved file structure. Of course it would be possible to
introduce a virus and then transmit it on to another person via e-mail if
this all takes place in the same session - but it is not a problem for your
own PC's.
We now have it on all of our public terminals and it does appear at present,
to be the complete answer. We asked our IT people to try to override its
provisions and they failed to do so.
It costs c £50 per machine and if you think about the staff time involved in
bringing 'messed up' PC's back into usable configuration after the state
some users leave them in, then I believe it is cheap at half the price.
Available from Calluna Technology Ltd., 1 Blackwood Road, Eastfield,
GLENROTHES, KY7 4NP. Tel 01592 631245
George Kerr
Support Services Manager
West Lothian Libraries
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