Re: [Fed-Talk] ISight and Bluetooth removal
Re: [Fed-Talk] ISight and Bluetooth removal
- Subject: Re: [Fed-Talk] ISight and Bluetooth removal
- From: David Barton <email@hidden>
- Date: Tue, 17 Jan 2006 14:41:41 -0500
I have a slightly different different perspective on this thread. We
are an Apple Federal Systems Integrator that is delivering a custom
product using Apple hardware for a government contract we have. We are
in the process of getting some of our guys Apple certified so we can
preform repairs on the gear we deploy because its typically in
classified environments and a cleared Apple tech is a rare find here.
If there was authorized Federal resellers who could sell systems that
have the wireless/IR/camera removed or disabled in an Apple Approved
manner and that the systems maintained default factory warranty then
that should be acceptable to most. I find it unlikely that Apple would
be able to negotiate DOE and or DOD wide agreements that approved the
purchase. Let alone the many other agencies that do have their own
policies. I think its more of the vendors responsibility to say the non
wireless/IR/camera product is only available via the authorized
resellers. If the product is an official Apple supported SKU then any
government agency should accept that.
As to the sticker idea. I think that this has to be integrated into the
Federal Reseller program. If a reseller modifies a machine to disable a
feature then they should have a new serial number (sticker) for the
machine. The reseller should notify Apple to remove the old serial and
enter the new serial. This is similar to what Apple does on a
refurbished product.
That also brings up a point to why we are a Federal Systems Integrator.
Direct shipments. We are allowed under our agreement with Apple to have
hardware shipped to us, then deliver it to the end customer. The normal
Apple Authorized agreements only permit shipment of the product to the
end customer.
That is just my .02.
-David
Ian Thompson wrote:
Basil,
Good point.....Which is why the solution must include Apple authorized
FEDERAL resellers and Federal Helpdesk personnel who are authorized to
make repairs.
what I envision is a document approved by both the DOE or Fed Agency
AND Apple which details the step by step procedure that an Authorized
tech can perform that will render that Mac system compliant with Gov't
security guidelines AND maintain the Apple warranty of that particular
system.
Again I am interested in ideas here. Maybe the auth reseller or
helpdesk tech puts a sticker on the machine that says this mac is
compliant with the federal security regulations. there are definite
details to work out.
On Jan 17, 2006, at 11:34 AM, Basil A Decina wrote:
Somewhat related...
Apple has moved away from DIY repair of iMacs. Nothing on the iSight
iMacs is user-accessible except for the one, and only one, memory
slot (there is 512-MB soldered onto the motherboard).
At 8:18 AM -0800 1/17/06, Peter Link wrote:
I'll let Ian comment on the email he sent to Mr. Pyke, DOE CIO, but
I ran across an iMac takeapart this morning and it doesn't look
good. http://nak.journalspace.com/?entryid=406 The previous iMac G5s
were easy to open but the instructions in this article changes that.
Instead of three screws that allow the back to easily open, you
remove 4 screws then pry the back/front off. The hard drive isn't
even easy to take out like before. The cable for the iSight is shown
in the photo but the author didn't get to the point of totally
removing everything.
Powerbooks have never been easy to open so I don't see the MacBook
being easy to get to anything other than memory and the
wireless/Bluetooth either.
At 3:49 PM -0500 1/12/06, Ian Thompson wrote:
I am going to reach out to the CIO of Energy HQ and see if they
will allocate a gov't resource to me and Apple to come up with a
guide to disable the camera and bluetooth that meets DOE specs.
The idea is that we work together to have a process to disable that
functionality, that DOE and Apple, in writing, says is hunky dory.
Once that happens, we go to our certified Apple Resellers and teach
then what to do to each Macbook or iMac to make it "certifiably DOE
disabled".
My goal is to try to achieve this once at the HQ level at DOE in
Washington, so all the labs and authorized resellers can get these
Macbooks with out violating any rules.
Thoughts and volunteers needed. I am reaching out to Tom Pike
tomorrow. I'll let DStraub know how the conversation goes.
Ian Thompson
Regional Manager
Federal Government Sales email@hidden
O (703) 264-3241
C (703) 216-4447
Apple Computer, Inc.
1892 Preston White Drive
Reston, VA 20191
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--
Peter Link
Cyber Security Analyst
Cyber Security Program
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
PO Box 808, L-315
Livermore, CA 94550
email@hidden
(925) 423-1230
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Ian Thompson
Regional Manager
Federal Government Sales email@hidden
O (703) 264-3241
C (703) 216-4447
Apple Computer, Inc.
1892 Preston White Drive
Reston, VA 20191
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