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I've just about decided that the perfect outfit for travel while flying is a hospital gown and
shower slides. The question is whether that flattering and oh, so practical garb will become a
requirement for corporate on-site visits, as well. It seems that the British Ministry of Defence
has decided that Apple's iPod is a significant hazard to national security and will no longer be
allowed into critical areas. It seems that people are beginning to notice that many modern products
are able to connect to a computer's USB port and transfer data, often without
requiring any
notification of or permission from system administrators.

So why stop at iPods? We've already seen companies banning certain models of cell phone
because of industrial espionage concerns. Why should running shoes, watches, or Swiss Army
knives with USB dongles be exempted from the ban? As we build more and more intelligence into
common items, the days of the gaping gown and flip-flops may not be far off.

The answer, of course, is for firms interested in security to do things like turning off
plug and play functionality. Until they come to their senses, though, Lester Haines at
The Register has come up with a list of sensible precautions.