Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!umich!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uwm.edu!psuvax1!psuvm!UHUPVM1!LIBPACS From: LIBPACS@UHUPVM1.BITNET (PACS Forum) Newsgroups: bit.listserv.pacs-l Subject: (no subject given) Message-ID: Date: 5 Feb 90 03:49:37 GMT Sender: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum Reply-To: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum Lines: 29 Approved: NETNEWS@PSUVM Gateway Comments: Resent-From: PACS Forum ----------------------------Original message---------------------------- FROM: DHCARL01@ULKYVM From: David H. Carlson (DHCARL01 @ ULKYVM.BITNET) Director, Office of Library Systems Phone: (502) 588-5733 Subject: Automenu and hard disks I would agree with most of Craig Summerhill's remarks on Automenu. We also use it at the University of Louisville. However, if you're looking for real security for your hard drive, this program does NOT solve all the problems -- by any means. Automenu probably does keep out the person who is not very DOS-literate but anyone with any DOS knowledge can easily defeat Automenu (and similar menu packages with security options). Since the package must be started by AUTOEXEC.BAT one can simply re-boot the machine and just start hitting break. That will prevent Automenu from ever running and "getting control". This is probably the easiest method. The second is simply to bring a bootable floppy and boot the machine off the floppy drive. That will do it too. Either one of these simple methods will allow complete control of the system, including hard drive. Hard disk security systems (with which I have no experience) are supposed to prevent these situations. You have to evaluate this like insurance -- how much protection do you want and how much is it worth to you. If you believe a bit of protection will foil most and you're not concerned with taking every measure possible to defeat even the most determined trouble-maker, then Automenu will probably do just fine. -David -Univ. of Louisville, Univ. Libraries