We have a consultant on site with a Chromebook that they want to connect to our network. Normally we would insist on AV however it seems that this in not the case with Chromebooks. Anyone have any real life experience to back this up?
Can he not install AVG?
All my Googley devices have it installed as a matter of course...
It's still got an operating system and some apps on it. I'd be cautious.
I don't think there's any way to install anything on a chromebook that isn't from Google. In theory (and Google say this themselves), it's not something that can get a virus. I'd hate to be the exception to disprove the rule tho. We have separate wireless networks for devices we can't secure.
Taking it back a step, why do they need access?
File transfer? Internet Access?
If it's not policy then just say no and work around it.
They could have loaded Linux as an independent OS on it and packed the install full of malware tools 😉
In reality I think you're OK 🙂
We likey Chromebooks very much. But pleeeeeeeeeze can we have a dlna client/player pleeeeeeeeeze!
@sharkbait I think they'd like you to buy a Chromecast for that bit, no ?
Taking it back a step, why do they need access?
File transfer? Internet Access?
If it's not policy then just say no and work around it.
Bingo.
We have an isolated wireless LAN for visiting guests; gets them Internet access and not much else. I wouldn't want a third party running round on our internal LAN whether they had antivirus or a letter from the Queen.
And that's probably the option I'll take eventually. However it doesn't address the immediate requirements.
Cheers for the answers guys!
For what it's worth,
I doubt very much that a Chromebook would be particularly susceptible to viruses, and if it [i]was[/i] infected then it'd probably of very limited threat to anything else apart from other Chromebooks.
You can't install anything on a Chromebook, and neither can anyone else.
It may be possible at some point in the future to do so but it's pretty obscure. Unlike Windows where there are bags of exploits that allow code to be installed, because the OS is designed to have stuff installed in it.
@sharkbait I think they'd like you to buy a Chromecast for that bit, no ?
Maybe, but that ain't going to work when I'm not near a TV.