Question

How to lock down USB ports

Asked by: junior15

I've got some desktop comptuers that I need to lock down the USB ports on. I'm trying to keep people from being able to plug in a USB flash drive and copy files to it while still allowing use of USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice and printers.  I've run across SecureNT from Securewave (I think they call it Sactuary Device Control now) and DeviceLock, but my management has rejected those products so I need to come up with something else.  They have rejected these products for other than technical reasons so if I can find some other product(s) that performs the same functions, I will be very happy.

Thanks for any help.

Daniel

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Asked On
2005-04-01 at 17:09:44ID21373647
Tags

usb

,

down

,

lock

,

ports

Topic

General Computer Systems

Participating Experts
4
Points
250
Comments
10

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Answers

 

by: orhanbabaPosted on 2005-04-01 at 23:35:41ID: 13686896

when computer robooting press del or f2 and enter bios . some where else there must be a usb setting . turn it off and add a password to your bios.

 

by: Rickggoalie3Posted on 2005-04-02 at 00:40:25ID: 13687037

Here is what your looking for...I think. This Reg Hack will disable/enable USB drives as needed.

****Begin Source (StopUSBDrive)****

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]
"Start"=dword:00000004

****End Source (StopUSBDrive)*****

****Begin Source (Start USBDrive)****

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]
"Start"=dword:00000004

****End Source (Start USBDrive)****

Hope this helps,
Rick G

 

by: Rickggoalie3Posted on 2005-04-02 at 00:41:22ID: 13687042

HEH, opps, scratch that.

Heres the actual source....

****Begin Source (StopUSBDrive)****

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]
"Start"=dword:00000004

****End Source (StopUSBDrive)*****

****Begin Source (Start USBDrive)****

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]
"Start"=dword:00000003

****End Source (Start USBDrive)****

 

by: Rickggoalie3Posted on 2005-04-02 at 00:42:08ID: 13687044

no more posting at 1:41 am for me...

Rick G

 

by: orhanbabaPosted on 2005-04-02 at 00:47:27ID: 13687053

if you are not professional user workng on registry is dangerous. you can damage registry. the best is bios. the easiest way is the best.

 

by: Rickggoalie3Posted on 2005-04-02 at 00:52:54ID: 13687074

If you have any problems at all simply set that setting back to "3". Thats whay there are two scripts.

The following script will undo the actions of the first.

****Begin Source (Start USBDrive)****

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\USBSTOR]
"Start"=dword:00000003

****End Source (Start USBDrive)****

Rick G

 

by: junior15Posted on 2005-04-02 at 07:56:38ID: 13688422

I'll take a look at the registry edits and see if this works for what I need.

orhanbaba:
Yes, editing the registry could be dangerous, but I'm very comfortable with editing the registry. Also, as I stated in my original post, I still need to use the USB ports for keyboards, mice and printers so disabling the ports in the bios isn't a solution.

 

by: AlbertaBeefPosted on 2005-04-02 at 20:56:43ID: 13690555

orhanbaba: just fyi, the bios idea won't work for junior15, as he mentioned in his original Q:

"I'm trying to keep people from being able to plug in a USB flash drive and copy files to it while still allowing use of USB peripherals such as keyboards, mice and printers."

Because he wants to still use USB for keyboards, mice and printers, your suggestion of disabling it in the bios won't work for the questioner.

Ab.

 

by: TheBestPosted on 2005-04-04 at 02:55:44ID: 13696131

What my school did to disable kids plugging in USB flash drives is add heaps of mapped drives into 'My Computer', eg. A: to Z: were all mapped (about half mapped to a blank folder). These are all mapped in the logon script. When someone plugs in a USB Drive, the system detects the hardware, but the drive doesn't appear.

does that help?

--daniel15

 

by: junior15Posted on 2005-06-14 at 10:19:15ID: 14213794

I haven't had a chance to get the regedits suggested here implemented because of politics and required approvals but I think it should work.

Thanks

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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