iPods Pose Security Risk

 

More than two-thirds of IT managers and executives believe iPods and other portable storage devices are a growing threat to data leakage in the workplace, according to a recent survey by Credant Technologies, an Addison, Texas-based data-protection firm.

Among 323 IT managers and business executives polled, 67 percent said iPods and similar devices are a threat to data leakage. At the same time, 61 percent said they had never heard of "podslurping" -- downloading corporate data to an iPod -- while just 6 percent said they have added an encryption application to data stored on iPods.

"Organizations will find it almost impossible to stop the use of these highly portable storage devices, but they can take positive steps to ensure that business data stored on them is encrypted when lost or stolen," Bob Heard, CEO of Credant Technologies, said in a statement.  Nearly half of the survey respondents said their companies have a written security policy regarding iPod use in the workplace.

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