If you have a USB drive that you use with multiple computers, it could be used to spread viruses and malware from one PC to another. Friendly Computers advises you to change your AutoPlay settings to prevent this from happening, and you can read how to do it below…
When you stick a thumb drive infected with a worm like Conficker/Downadup into a clean system, the normally handy AutoPlay feature launches the worm and spreads the infection. So, what are you waiting for? Turn off AutoPlay! Panda Security offers a free "vaccine" program that will turn it off. But you can actually flip the master switch without any utilities. Here's how:
On non-Home versions of Windows (for example, Windows XP Professional, Vista Ultimate):
1. Click Start, click Run, enter gpedit.msc (launch Group Policy Editor);
2. XP users: Open Computer Configuration | Administrative Templates | System,
Vista users: Open Computer Configuration | Windows Components | AutoPlay Policies;
3. Find Turn Off AutoPlay in the right-hand pane and double-click it;
4. Choose Enabled and set it for All drives.Or, in any Windows version:
1. Launch the Registry editor (Start | Run | regedit);
2. Navigate toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer;
3. Double-clickNoDriveTypeAutoRunin the right-hand pane and set its value to hexadecimalFF.
