Microsoft Kills AutoRun In Windows

aesoteric writes "Microsoft has finally decided to push out an update to disable AutoRun in its XP operating system, a Windows feature that had been increasingly exploited by virus writers over the years. But because Microsoft still sees AutoRun as a feature and not a security hole, it isn't calling its Windows Update a "security update" but rather an "Important, non-security update" — but it effectively disables the AutoRun feature anyway."

Comments

Re:FP

[gringer]

did you use autorun to post that?

Removing a feature? That I PAID for?

[nebaz]

Man, this is just like Sony removing the "Other OS" feature from the PS3. I PAID for Windows XP because of the Auto-Run feature, as I'm sure many others have as well. This is a clear case of bait-and-switch deceptive marketing practicing. I wonder if a legal case could be made...

Re:XP now more secure than Linux?

[MrEricSir]

As long as you never run IE, don't connect your computer to the internet, and never insert external media, then YES!

Sony will be annoyed

[Ynot_82]

Their CD rootkits won't run automatically

Bet you there's a super-secret way to re-enable autorun on a specific medium for just such reasons
(which will be discovered and exploited by malware writers)

This was a needful thing.

[symbolset]

Will nobody else say it? Ok, I'll say it without inserting some criticism about the timing, the need for this change, or whatever.

This needed to be done. The patch needed to be the default. The patch is here and it provides an improvement on the Windows experience not only for the Windows users, but for those of us who share an Internet with them.

So thank you, Microsoft, for doing the right thing.

Re:Removing a feature? That I PAID for?

[tomhudson]

Trolling? Window update is NOT mandatory. You can choose not to install a specific fix and then it will not prompt you for it in the future. It's not like PS3, where you have to update to play online.

Hmmmm.... Seems you must be unable to recognize sarcasm. And here I thought I was humorless. ;)

[sarcasm] He has auto-sarcasm turned of, you insensitive clod! [/sarcasm]

Re:not the same thing this is just takeing away a

[psithurism]

you can still run stuff manually

Really? If an autorun menu doesn't pop up what do I do? How do I make the CD, y'know do stuff?

and the up date is not forced on you

Microsoft is pushing it on me. I think my computer gets those automatically. I can't make CD work and you want me to stop the whole of Microsoft pushing an update?

I'm suing.