Disabling Autoplay - Windows Watch

 
Windows Watch Windows Watch Windows Watch Windows Watch
A blog from Computeractive

« Today only: Quickbooks SimpleStart for free | Main | The importance of reading the manual »

Disabling Autoplay

What with the current threats to USB disks (memory keys, hard disks, memory cards), it is probably a good idea to disable Autoplay in Windows. If you have XP Pro this can be done through the Group Policy Editor, but that’s not an option for XP Home users, who have to edit the Registry directly.

image There’s an alternative in the form of the Microsoft PowerToy TweakUI. This provides a person friendly and safe way to make the required changes in the Registry

Left-click on the small pluses by My Computer and AutoPlay. Left-click on Types in the left hand column and click in the box Enable Autoplay for removable drive so the tick disappears. Click on OK.

image To be really safe, it’s also a good idea to access the contents of USB keys and drives with the right-click menu in My Computer, rather than a simple double-click. Select Explore from the menu.

This may make some devices like the ClickFree Backup Drive a little less convenient but I’d say that’s a small price to pay to stay safe.

Comments

ya, i agree with you, we should disable the auto play. This is very important especially to prevent the virus attack from auto play programme.

posted-by Busby seo test | January 28, 2009 3:19 AM

Same here, I usually disable the auto run feature using gpedit saves me lots of times from virus that use the auto play program people should really try doing it.

posted-by Donna Malone | January 28, 2009 5:55 PM

I always disable any sort of auto play or anything like. Why take the chance. It's unfortunate that PC's have to be so aware of outside attacks more so that other OS's.

posted-by danhuong | February 1, 2009 12:16 AM

I agree with this advice entirely and it's not just for security reasons. Autoplay - usually audio or video - is an unwanted intrusion and should never be used by responsible webmasters. I actually consider it very close to spam. I'm a webmaster myself and some of my sites include important audio and video samples and presentations. But I would never use autoplay.

posted-by DavidO | February 3, 2009 11:26 AM

I usually disable autoplay as it is a great preventive measure and you lose very little by doing so.

posted-by Rundll Error | February 14, 2009 3:08 AM

Post a comment







Site credentials: About | Privacy policy | Terms & conditions | Top of the page
© Incisive Media Investments Limited 2010, Published by Incisive Financial Publishing Limited, Haymarket House, 28-29 Haymarket, London SW1Y 4RX, are companies registered in England and Wales with company registration numbers 04252091 & 04252093