I would strongly advise AGAINST opening a USB to see who owns it because it may be full of viruses.
Charles
________________________________________
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James McClean [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 30 September 2010 10:38
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lost USBs
I think that this discussion has moved away from the original query and I, like others, have followed this move.
The question was:
"On Wed, 29 Sep 2010, Joanne Carpenter wrote:
> Does anyone have a policy on opening usbs that have been left in
> machines to find out who they belong to?"
I interpret this as meaning: is it alright for us to open a usb in the hope that we can discover who owns it? Could we see something we shouldn't? [if we find a wallet, are we entitled to open it to try to discover the owner?]
I think the JISC statement covers advice that should be given to staff and students regarding the risks involved with certain media.
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Havergal, Virginia
Sent: 30 September 2010 10:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lost USBs
May I also suggest contacting JISC Legal http://www.jisclegal.ac.uk/
in this matter if you want an answer to this (they are very quick to let you know the position and give advice) as it is linked to data protection and I found this snippet in their Code of Practice dated 1998 on the Data Protection Act
The increasing capacity and declining size of storage
media, such as CDs, mini hard disk drives, and USB
flash memory data sticks means that it is possible for
employees and students to carry considerable amounts
of personal data on media that are easily lost or
forgotten. Institutions should consider the provision of
advice to employees and students about the appropriate
use of such media and the need for adequate security
measures to reduce data breaches in the event of loss
or theft.
I think it is fair to say that Charles' advice is pretty sound in terms of a clear public statement on this and echoes JISC Legal with regard to 'provision of advice to employees and students about the appropriate use of such media and the need for ADEQUATE SECURITY MEASURES'
Personally I think this is also something that can be included in any work that you are doing on e-Safety and Safeguarding as loss of USB sticks has the potential to place learners (and staff) in vulnerable positions.
Virginia
Virginia Havergal
Learning Centres & e-Resources Manager
Petroc Barnstaple
(Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday)
Old Sticklepath Hill,
Barnstaple, Devon, EX31 2BQ
01271 338170
Petroc Tiverton
(Thursday & Friday)
Bolham Road,
Tiverton, Devon, EX16 6SH
01884 235234/235284
www.petroc.ac.uk
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Stephen Harvey
Sent: 30 September 2010 09:53
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lost USBs
Nobody ever ended up in court for having unclaimed usb's in a lost property box...
The original query was relating to looking at a usb to ascertain the owner, and so return it. I feel happy with my original reply, and think that the only confusion has arisen from the 'need' to destroy such devices.
If somebody left their car outside your house for a long period of time would you have any legal recourse for destroying it!
Our students during the induction process sign a form that tie's them to our policy on how to use the LRC/Library and I would add a section to that policy.
Anyone who seeks more advice on the legal side should perhaps consider the advise that Charles has been giving, since he is running a similar course on legal issue's within web 2.0 - so would be my first port of call were I unsure about anything.
Stephen Harvey
Learning Resources Service Manager
Hertford Regional College
Scotts Road
Ware
Herts SG12 9JF
(01992) 411680
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of James McClean
Sent: 30 September 2010 09:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lost USBs
All,
What I have read so far are people's (conflicting) opinions.
Is there someone who can make a definitive statement about a policy which will ensure that no one ends up in court?
Jim
-----Original Message-----
From: A general Library and Information Science list for news and discussion. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Brunella Longo
Sent: 30 September 2010 09:08
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Lost USBs
Charles's publicity of UKeiG training is brilliant but he is not addressing the
issue.
1) Destruction of users' forgotten USBs is most of the times the most sensible
way to be compliant with FOI, data protection, ISO/BSI standards about data and
records management in the context of library and information services.
2) Readers should ignore what Prof Oppenheim has to say, as it has no basis at
all in information management.
Brunella
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