No more Windows games for you says Sophos

Stan Beer
Wednesday, 31 January 2007 17:23

Your IT - Home IT

A recent Sophos poll survey of more than 450 system administrators reflected the security and efficiency concerns surrounding the use of computer games - 90.4% of respondents wanted the ability to block games, with 62% indicating this was essential.  Even some games developers have recognised the impact their creations can have on productivity in the workplace.

"When I wrote Solitaire for Microsoft, I unleashed a monster of unproductivity onto the world," Wes Cherry, author of Microsoft Windows Solitaire told Sophos.  "I bet there are millions of bosses out there who hate me.  If I had a penny for every hour that has been wasted playing Solitaire in the office, I could hire Bill Gates as my golf caddie."

"Microsoft says that 'Windows comes with a small set of games that you can play whenever you're in the mood for a bit of fun,' and this is fine - except when employees are doing it at their company's expense," said Carole Theriault, senior security consultant at Sophos.  "These games have been available on most installations of Windows for years, and I would bet more hours have been spent playing them in the office than any other game in the world."

Windows games currently blocked by Sophos Application Control:

MS Windows Games:
-Solitaire
-Hearts
-Spider Solitaire
-FreeCell
-MineSweeper

-3D Pinball

MSN Gaming Zone:
-Internet Backgammon
-Internet Checkers
-Internet Hearts
-Internet Reversi
-Internet Spades

The ability to block Windows games bolsters Sophos's previous Application Control offering that allows system administrators to block popular games from 15 major games publishers, including Eidos Interactive, SEGA and Electronic Arts.