An IT security consultant has developed a program designed to scan corporate networks for sensitive files and automatically transfer them to an iPod.

The 'slurp.exe' application fits on a standard iPod and when activated searches a network for relevant file formats, such as Word and Excel documents.

Consultants at Sharp Ideas wrote the application as a proof of concept and posted it on the corporate website. It has since been hobbled so that it cannot copy files, but just counts how many are available. 

"Using slurp.exe on my iPod it took me 65 seconds to copy all document files (*.doc, *.xls, *.htm, *.url, *.xml, *.txt, etc.) off of my computer as a logged in user," said the originator in an article on the topic on the corporate website.

"Without a username and password I was able to use a boot CD Rom to bypass the login password and copy the document files from my hard drive to my iPod in about three minutes 15 seconds."

The company is recommending that iPods are banned from offices and that USB connections to corporate PCs are terminated. Information should also be stored on a central encrypted server rather than on individual PCs.