podslurping

The small size of the devices and the ease of connectivity -- for example through the USB port or a wireless Bluetooth connection -- makes it possible for anyone who can get access to a computer to download files from it quickly and surreptitiously.

To illustrate the ease of podslurping, security expert Abe Usher created a proof of concept application called slurp.exe. Using the program on his iPod, Usher was able to copy all document files from his computer in 65 seconds. Usher now makes a version of his program for security audits that does not actually copy the files but generates a report of the information that could have been stolen in a real attack.

To protect against podslurping and other network intrusions targeting individual computers, experts recommend that administrators develop and enforce effective endpoint security policies.