Hidden Linux : Linux on a stick
This
month's print magazine has a dangerous tip on page 81. "Is it possible
to disable writing to USB devices," a reader asks, "in order to stop
users being able to copy sensitive information from a PC?" The answer
-- which involves tweaking a Windows Registry key -- gives the
impression that it's a complete solution. Which is, but only if an
attacker comes from Windows.What the solution ignores is the world of bootable operating systems. Pop in a Knoppix CD for example, restart the machine and you have full access to not only a superior operating system, but also access to every file in every Windows partition on the machine. You can copy all those sensitive files and not leave any trace of every having been there.
No CD drive? What about Linux on a floppy disk? Tom Dehser's tomsrtbt squeezes a mini text-based distribution onto a 1.44MB floppy. Again, if you know a few Linux commands, the hard drive data's there for the taking.
But most convenient of all is Linux on a USB drive. Mandriva make a commercial version, which includes a 4GB drive and free international shipping for 89 Euros, but putting your own together is a doddle if you follow the instructions at Pendrivelinux.com.
For my test installation, I went for Pendrivelinux's own USB Pen Drive Linux package, which involved downloading a 400MB image file and following a few simple instructions. I also created a second partition on the drive (by following the optional instructions) and viola, a bootable, graphical, full-featured Linux on a stick!
But the fun doesn't end there. By following the directions on the Run Pendrivelinux without rebooting page, I got this...
...Linux running inside Windows -- no USB drive or CD required!
You're not restricted to PDL's own distro either. There's instructions for creating bootable drives from many popular Linuxes, including Ubuntu, Gentoo, Knoppix, SLAX and Damn Small Linux (which only requires a 64MB drive). And most directions allow you to build your bootables from within either Linux or Windows.
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Comments
Just beacause you are the resident linux man doesn't neccessarily mean that you must spend half of every article whinging about the big bad microsoft. If you don't like windows don't use it and stop complaining to me about it
Posted by: Harry | November 4, 2007 6:48 PM
Another great article, Geoff!
Yes, this really does show the huge, enormous gap between the flexibility and power of Linux (and the BSDs), and the "we will give nothing away" mentality of Microsoft. As proof, I give you this little snippet from the great O'Reilly book "Knoppix Hacks" (page 214).
I quote -
"Here are just a few things that the Windows Recovery CD should be able to do, but can't -
Edit text files
Copy to a floppy
Browse your full hard disk"
*Honestly* - if MS really want to be taken seriously, they could start with allowing those three things with the recovery CD.
Posted by: Andy | November 3, 2007 12:18 PM
It's hard to not feel a little superior to all the Plain Jane exclusively Windows users once you've discovered the joys and ease of the many Linux prog's and solutions. Even with quite basic knowledge finding ways of achieving tasks and getting around the problematic bits in Windows is surprisingly easy. And the options and alternatives available... incredible.
God bless Geoff for showing the way
Posted by: Adam | November 3, 2007 6:50 AM
Thanks Geoff. This is the kind of article I always hope to find in the magazine. Something to try on a rainy (this) weekend.
Posted by: Cameron | November 2, 2007 11:08 PM