Device Control
Device Control manages user access to devices that are installed on or connected to the computer (for example, hard drives, cameras, or Wi-Fi modules). This lets you protect the computer from infection when such devices are connected, and prevent loss or leaks of data.
Device access levels
Device Control controls access at the following levels:
- Device type. For example, printers, removable drives, and CD/DVD drives.
You can configure device access as follows:
- Allow –
. - Block –
. - By rules (printers and portable devices only) –
. - Depends on connection bus (except Wi-Fi) –
. - Block with exceptions (Wi-Fi only) – .
- Allow –
- Connection bus. A connection bus is an interface used for connecting devices to the computer (for example, USB or FireWire). If Depends on connection bus mode is selected for the device type, the application allows or denies access to the device depending on the connection interface (e.g. USB).
You can configure device access as follows:
- Allow – .
- Block – .
- Allow –
- Trusted devices. Trusted devices are devices to which users that are specified in the trusted device settings have full access at all times.
You can add trusted devices based on the following data:
- Devices by ID. Each device has a unique identifier (Hardware ID, or HWID). You can view the ID in the device properties by using operating system tools. Example of a device ID:
SCSI\CDROM&VEN_NECVMWAR&PROD_VMWARE_SATA_CD00\5&354AE4D7&0&000000. Adding devices by ID is convenient if you want to add several specific devices. - Devices by model. Each device has a vendor ID (VID) and a product ID (PID). You can view the IDs in the device properties by using operating system tools. Template for entering the VID and PID:
VID_1234&PID_5678. Adding devices by model is convenient if you use devices of a certain model in your organization. This way, you can add all devices of this model. - Devices by ID mask. If you are using multiple devices with similar IDs, you can add devices to the trusted list by using masks. The
*character replaces any set of characters. Kaspersky Endpoint Security does not support the?character when entering a mask. For example,WDC_C*. - Devices by model mask. If you are using multiple devices with similar VIDs or PIDs (for example, devices from the same manufacturer), you can add devices to the trusted list by using masks. The
*character replaces any set of characters. Kaspersky Endpoint Security does not support the?character when entering a mask. For example,VID_05AC&PID_*.
- Devices by ID. Each device has a unique identifier (Hardware ID, or HWID). You can view the ID in the device properties by using operating system tools. Example of a device ID:
Device Control regulates user access to devices by using access rules. Device Control also lets you save device connection/disconnection events. To save events, you need to configure the registration of events in a policy.
If access to a device depends on the connection bus (the status), Kaspersky Endpoint Security does not save device connection/disconnection events. To enable Kaspersky Endpoint Security to save device connection/disconnection events, allow access to the corresponding type of device (the status) or add the device to the trusted list.
When a device that is blocked by Device Control is connected to the computer, Kaspersky Endpoint Security will block access and show a notification (see the figure below).
Device Control notification
Device Control operating algorithm
Kaspersky Endpoint Security makes a decision on whether to allow access to a device after the user connects the device to the computer (see the figure below).
Device Control operating algorithm
If a device is connected and access is allowed, you can edit the access rule and block access. In this case, the next time someone attempts to access the device (such as to view the folder tree, or perform read or write operations), Kaspersky Endpoint Security blocks access. A device without a file system is blocked only the next time that the device is connected.
If a user of the computer with Kaspersky Endpoint Security installed must request access to a device that the user believes was blocked by mistake, send the user the request access instructions.
Device Control component settings
Parameter |
Description |
|---|---|
Allow request for temporary access (available only in the Kaspersky Security Center Console) |
If the check box is selected, the Request access button is available through the local interface of Kaspersky Endpoint Security. Using this button, the user can request temporary access to a blocked device. |
Devices and Wi-Fi networks |
This table contains all possible types of devices according to the classification of the Device Control component, including their respective access statuses. |
Connection buses |
A list of all available connection buses according to the Device Control component's classification, including their respective access statuses. Kaspersky Endpoint Security allows or denies access to devices depending on the type of connection bus if Depends on connection bus mode is selected. |
Trusted devices |
List of trusted devices and users who are granted access to these devices. |
Anti-Bridging |
Anti-Bridging inhibits the creation of network bridges by preventing the simultaneous establishment of multiple network connections for a computer. This lets you protect a corporate network from attacks over unprotected, unauthorized networks. Anti-Bridging blocks the establishment of multiple connections according to the priorities of devices. The higher a device is on the list, the higher its priority. If an active connection and a new connection are both of the same type (for example, Wi-Fi), Kaspersky Endpoint Security blocks the active connection and allows establishment of the new connection. If an active connection and a new connection are of different types (for example, a network adapter and Wi-Fi), Kaspersky Endpoint Security blocks the connection with the lower priority and allows the connection with the higher priority. Anti-Bridging supports operation with the following types of devices: network adapter, Wi-Fi, and modem. |
Message templates |
Message about blocking. Template of the message that appears when a user attempts to access a blocked device. This message also appears when a user attempts to perform an operation on the device contents that was blocked for this user. Message to administrator. A template of the message that is sent to the LAN administrator when the user believes that access to the device is blocked or an operation with device content is forbidden by mistake. After the user requests to provide access, Kaspersky Endpoint Security sends an event to Kaspersky Security Center: Device access blockage message to administrator. The event description contains a message to administrator with substituted variables. You can view these events in the Kaspersky Security Center console using the predefined event selection User requests. If your organization does not have Kaspersky Security Center deployed or there is no connection to the Administration Server, the application will send a message to administrator to the specified email address. |