How to disable autorun programs (autorun.inf file processing)

The automatic launch of programs was developed and implemented by Microsoft with the best intentions. For the first time, it has been implemented in the Windows 95 operating system. It's easy to calculate that more than 17 years have passed since then, that for a computer field where technologies are replaced almost every year, it means a very long time, so it's not surprising that many users are asking "how to disable Autorun programs. "

The meaning of autorun is the following: when you connect a new medium to a computer running a Windows system, whether it's a CD or a flash drive, the operating system scans the root folder of the media for the presence of a special file - autorun.inf. When it is detected, the command executed in it is initialized. Usually, an interactive user interface is launched, allowing you to selectively install the desired program (in the case of a data drive). You can also start playing music or a movie (multimedia disc). In fact, there is a wide variety of programs that run through autostart (autorun). In general, the included autorun feature greatly simplifies the use of the computer, which is especially important for beginners and people who do not want to delve into other ways of launching programs. It is understandable that for this they do not need to understand how to remove the autorun programs.

The structure of the autorun file is very simple: it contains the path to the application executable file. With the proper skill, you can easily correct it with a text editor for your needs.

When the author's function is activated in the operating system, but absent on the media file, a full scan is performed. Based on the detected file types, the user is offered a choice of actions: "view" for images, "play" for audio recordings, etc.

Why do I need to know how to disable autorun programs? The fact is that some bad people, better known as virus writers, decided to take advantage of the ideal loophole for spreading their malicious programs. There is nothing easier than spreading the virus through the author. When a storage medium (flash drive, disk) is connected to the infected computer, the virus copies itself to them and creates a hidden autorun file. It is enough to connect such a medium to a "clean" computer with the autorun function turned on, like an autorun file, with the paths registered to the virus, performed by the operating system, which causes infection.

Anyone who wanted to disable the autorun, long ago figured out how to disable autorun programs. In principle, this method of distribution is designed for newcomers who ignore basic computer security, in the form of antiviruses and disabling autorun.

In addition to the additional danger of infecting a computer with a virus through autorun.inf, this function has long been not popular, since flaws outweigh the advantages. The disadvantages that cause the user to search for the answer to the question "how to disable autorun programs" are the following:

- the computer must be run under the control of the user, allowing you to interfere with the process, correcting it. Autostart is executed independently;

- Many discs, especially ones that are self-recorded at home, do not have an autorun file. When they are connected, the system scans folders, which sometimes takes a long time;

- Some disks from long storage cease to be normally read and long initialized. To count such a disk with the autorun function turned on is a headache for the user.

There are several ways to disable autostart in WinXP: from editing the registry to third-party programs. It is convenient to use the free program XP Tweaker. Multimedia - CDs - Disable autorun.

In Win 7, the disconnection is made in the Control Panel: autostart (uncheck).

If you need to remove the program from autorun, then we press the combination Win + R (or the command "Execute"), in the window type msconfig (Enter). Choose "autoload" and adjust the list of programs.