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Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this

Why's "ban" needed? Government should have full control over government issued devices and only whitelisted modifications should be allowed. If it's not this way - someone at government should be held accountable for jeopardizing the security of the nation.

ralfd 7y ago
> A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commercial apps, including common social media apps, but from time to time specific programs that present security threats are banned. Should the Navy whitelist Ebay and Amazon? What about the Walmart app? If Target has one should they then apply to get whitelisted? What about navy personal in other countries with their apps? What about popular app/game xyz? There are a million apps? If all that has to be whitelisted the buerocratic overhead would be either really cumbersome or the value of an issued device so small, that people would buy and use their own devices anyways.
- beatgammit 7y ago
  Do they need those apps to carry out their duties? If not, that should remain on personal devices and left in a secure location while on duty. There have been too many incidents of apps like Strava publishing locations that it's just not worth missing something important.
- choward 7y ago
  All the "apps" you mentioned should just be well designed web sites. No reason for an app.
  - jomoio 7y ago
    Good point, we'll get the Navy right on that.
    - bdcravens 7y ago
      The point is that if you argue a soldier shouldn't have Target or Amazon on their phone, it's pointless, as they still have Safari or Chrome.
      - braythwayt 7y ago
        I'm not sure that's a complete argument. If you're arguing that soldiers shouldn't do business with Target or Amazon on their mobile device, blocking an app won't get the job done, agreed. But if the argument for blocking the app has to do with untrusted native code running on a device used for military purposes, the surface area of a browser is much smaller than the surface area of a plethora of native apps.
- threatofrain 7y ago
  This is a work phone and people should have an extra cell phone for personal uses, and when they're at a government job with sensitive information they should be using their work phone. People who don't work with sensitive information or interesting responsibilities can use whatever phone they want if they don't mind totally forfeiting their privacy. But eBay? Amazon? Walmart? Popular apps and games? Sure, get those whitelisted. Or are we thinking about maximizing the value proposition of a work phone at a government job?
- cheschire 7y ago
  > the bureaucratic overhead would be either really cumbersome or the value of <insert service> so small... Oh, I see you are already familiar with how the U.S. government operates.
account73466 7y ago
I guess that it is phrased that way in order to signal other non-government organizations that they should have a look and probably ban it as well.
CivBase 7y ago
I'm guessing those phones are to ensure their owners have a dedicated communication channel and a platform to run non-critical tech necessary for their job. Apps for non-sensitive emails, schedules, maps, org directories, etc. If the government is putting sensitive military data on an Android or iOS phone, you should be concerned. A whitelist would not be a sufficient safeguard.
- stilisstuk 7y ago
  We use Citrix secure hub on iPhone (mail, VPN etc). Appstore is allowed also (minecraft etc)
- Enginerrrd 7y ago
  I think it's more an issue that non-sensitive data can still be harvested and turned into sensitive data. So for example, troop movements are sensitive. They probably wouldn't be coordinating those over unofficial channels. And normally if, say, a soldier says "I love you" to his family, that's not really sensitive. If all of a sudden, 40% of the soldiers on a base do that though, that's leaking sensitive data.
scottlawson 7y ago
> A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commercial apps, including common social media apps, but from time to time specific programs that present security threats are banned. He would not give examples of apps that are allowed or those considered unsafe.
kova12 7y ago
Because employees feel that they deserve to use Facebook and such on their government issued devices, and if you deny them their God given right, you are racist, sexist, and otherwise despicable person
- deith 7y ago
  Well... I guess I can understand they don't want to go around with two mobiles.
- braythwayt 7y ago
  > Because employees feel that they deserve to use Facebook and such on their government issued devices True, and contributes to the discussion by pointing out that morale is a tricky thing. > if you deny them their God given right, you are racist, sexist, and otherwise despicable person This is _at best_ hyperbole. It has no insights, adds nothing of intellectual interest to the conversation, and falsely equates "I'm not getting what I want" with "Accusing other people of being racist and/or sexist." That last bit is not only way off-topic for this, but it's an ugly and false smear that drags the level of conversation into the mud.
- wpasc 7y ago
  I agree strong security protocols are necessary, but our soldiers abroad should be allowed to interact with their friends and family abroad in some capacity via social media. I think your comment is a little over the top.
- defined 7y ago
  I think this is an ironic reply. I hope.

ralfd 7y ago

> A Navy spokesman said Naval and Marine personnel who use government issued smart devices are generally allowed to use popular commercial apps, including common social media apps, but from time to time specific programs that present security threats are banned. Should the Navy whitelist Ebay and Amazon? What about the Walmart app? If Target has one should they then apply to get whitelisted? What about navy personal in other countries with their apps? What about popular app/game xyz? There are a million apps? If all that has to be whitelisted the buerocratic overhead would be either really cumbersome or the value of an issued device so small, that people would buy and use their own devices anyways.

beatgammit 7y ago
Do they need those apps to carry out their duties? If not, that should remain on personal devices and left in a secure location while on duty. There have been too many incidents of apps like Strava publishing locations that it's just not worth missing something important.
choward 7y ago
All the "apps" you mentioned should just be well designed web sites. No reason for an app.
- jomoio 7y ago
  Good point, we'll get the Navy right on that.
  - bdcravens 7y ago
    The point is that if you argue a soldier shouldn't have Target or Amazon on their phone, it's pointless, as they still have Safari or Chrome.
    - braythwayt 7y ago
      I'm not sure that's a complete argument. If you're arguing that soldiers shouldn't do business with Target or Amazon on their mobile device, blocking an app won't get the job done, agreed. But if the argument for blocking the app has to do with untrusted native code running on a device used for military purposes, the surface area of a browser is much smaller than the surface area of a plethora of native apps.
threatofrain 7y ago
This is a work phone and people should have an extra cell phone for personal uses, and when they're at a government job with sensitive information they should be using their work phone. People who don't work with sensitive information or interesting responsibilities can use whatever phone they want if they don't mind totally forfeiting their privacy. But eBay? Amazon? Walmart? Popular apps and games? Sure, get those whitelisted. Or are we thinking about maximizing the value proposition of a work phone at a government job?
cheschire 7y ago
> the bureaucratic overhead would be either really cumbersome or the value of <insert service> so small... Oh, I see you are already familiar with how the U.S. government operates.

account73466 7y ago

I guess that it is phrased that way in order to signal other non-government organizations that they should have a look and probably ban it as well.

CivBase 7y ago

I'm guessing those phones are to ensure their owners have a dedicated communication channel and a platform to run non-critical tech necessary for their job. Apps for non-sensitive emails, schedules, maps, org directories, etc. If the government is putting sensitive military data on an Android or iOS phone, you should be concerned. A whitelist would not be a sufficient safeguard.

stilisstuk 7y ago
We use Citrix secure hub on iPhone (mail, VPN etc). Appstore is allowed also (minecraft etc)
Enginerrrd 7y ago
I think it's more an issue that non-sensitive data can still be harvested and turned into sensitive data. So for example, troop movements are sensitive. They probably wouldn't be coordinating those over unofficial channels. And normally if, say, a soldier says "I love you" to his family, that's not really sensitive. If all of a sudden, 40% of the soldiers on a base do that though, that's leaking sensitive data.

scottlawson 7y ago

kova12 7y ago

Because employees feel that they deserve to use Facebook and such on their government issued devices, and if you deny them their God given right, you are racist, sexist, and otherwise despicable person

deith 7y ago
Well... I guess I can understand they don't want to go around with two mobiles.
braythwayt 7y ago
> Because employees feel that they deserve to use Facebook and such on their government issued devices True, and contributes to the discussion by pointing out that morale is a tricky thing. > if you deny them their God given right, you are racist, sexist, and otherwise despicable person This is _at best_ hyperbole. It has no insights, adds nothing of intellectual interest to the conversation, and falsely equates "I'm not getting what I want" with "Accusing other people of being racist and/or sexist." That last bit is not only way off-topic for this, but it's an ugly and false smear that drags the level of conversation into the mud.
wpasc 7y ago
I agree strong security protocols are necessary, but our soldiers abroad should be allowed to interact with their friends and family abroad in some capacity via social media. I think your comment is a little over the top.
defined 7y ago
I think this is an ironic reply. I hope.