Windows master "autoplay disable" switch

[johnridley]

I've always used TweakUI to disable (the root of many evils) autoplay, but it isn't always 100% successful; for instance, double-clicking on a DVD movie disc still brings up the DVD player.

In the wake of some worm that spreads in part via autoplay on thumb drives, The Register linked to this article:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/953252

I hadn't seen this method before. Apparently it finally and totally shuts the damn "convenience" off.

Of course, the Register also mentions that the US Computer Emergency Response Team says those instructions aren't fully effective, but they neglect to link to their "better" instructions.

Comments

[kevinnickerson.livejournal.com]

Read El Reg again. It looks like the CERT thing is about the older KB article.

[johnridley.livejournal.com]

Ah, you're right. Good. Hopefully the new one is finally, really shutting the damn nuisance off.

I noticed some comments by people that said their coworkers thought that disabling autorun caused extra steps and was a nuisance. Well, locking your house is an extra step and a nuisance too, but it's still probably a good idea for most folks, and for the same reason. To keep people from walking around inside and taking your stuff.

[kevinnickerson.livejournal.com]

Ah, and the instructions are really only for XP pro. Not that it says so anywhere, but gpedit.msc doesn't exist for XP Home.