Malware writer's nightmare
In what looks
like a malware writer's worst dream, Microsoft is disabling the autorun function
on its various operating systems.
Under the plan, Redmond will prevent memory
sticks, digital picture frames and other devices that attach to PCs from running
automatically when they're plugged in. The only devices that won't be
affected are non-writeable DVDs and CD-ROMs, which haven't been spreading
malicious code.
Microsoft has always claimed that Autorun was safe, however
not it admits that the amount of malware spreading through this feature has
shot up. However Microsoft is still worried that disabling Autorun would make
Windows too hard for non-technical users to operate. But that is not stopping it
disabling Autorun in Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP soon.