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Encyclopedia > Autorun

Autorun or autoplay (sometimes spelled in CamelCase as AutoRun or AutoPlay) is the ability of many modern computer operating systems to automatically take some action upon the inserting of removable media such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or flash media. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the machine. ... // An operating system (OS) is the software that manages the sharing of the resources of a computer. ... Removable media are transportable drives or disks that can be moved easily from one computer to another. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... DVD is an optical disc storage media format that is used for playback of movies with high video and sound quality and for storing data. ... A USB flash drive. ...


AutoRun is intended as a convenience feature: software distributed on a disc can automatically start an installer when the disc is inserted. However, autorun can pose a security threat, when the user does not expect or intend to run the software. This article describes how security can be achieved through design and engineering. ...


For instance, an attacker with brief and casual physical access to a computer can surreptitiously insert a disc and cause software to run. Alternately, malicious software can be distributed with a disc that the user doesn't expect to contain software at all -- such as an audio compact disc. Even music CD's from well known name-brand labels have not always been safe. A compact disc or CD is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... The 2005 Sony BMG CD copy protection scandal was a public scandal dealing with Sony BMG Music Entertainments surreptitious distribution of rootkit software on audio compact discs. ...

Contents

Microsoft Windows

AutoRun

In Microsoft Windows, AutoRun can be bypassed by holding down the shift key as the optical disc is inserted into the optical disc drive. It can also be permanently disabled (by a System Administrator) by setting the "AutoRun" subkey in the registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesCDRom to 0. Windows redirects here. ... The shift key on a modern Windows keyboard The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate upper characters. ... In computing, sound reproduction, and video, an optical disc is flat, circular, usually polycarbonate disc whereon data is stored. ... A system administrator, or sysadmin, is a person employed to maintain, and operate a computer system or network. ... The Windows registry is a database which stores settings and options for the operating system for Microsoft Windows 32-bit versions, 64-bit versions and Windows Mobile. ...


A CD can contain an optional file, named Autorun.inf, in its root directory which contains instructions for what action to perform as the CD is inserted. These instructions can include, for example, a command for an installation program to be executed. A computer file is a collection of information that is stored in a computer system and can be identified by its full path name. ... An installation program or installer is a computer program that installs files, such as applications, drivers, or other software, onto a computer. ...


However, even when Autorun is disabled, double-clicking a drive containing AUTORUN.INF in its root directory will still activate AutoRun.


How Explorer recogizes AutoRun capability

Explorer uses to registry key HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerNoDriveAutoRun to determine what drive's cannot use AutoRun. Bit 0 corresponds to drive A:, bit 1 corresponds to drive B:, and so on.


Explorer determines the type of drive that can use AutoRun feature, by using the registry key value HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersionPoliciesExplorerNoDriveTypeAutoRun . NoDriveTypeAutoRun is a switch value calculated by adding numbers in following fields with 128 (80 hexadecimal). The final value determines what drives cannot use AutoRun.

Variable Number Drive type(s)
DRIVE_UNKNOWN 1
DRIVE_NO_ROOT_DIR 2
DRIVE_REMOVABLE 4 Disk can be removed from drive, such as floppy disk, removable cartridge
DRIVE_FIXED 8 Disk cannot be removed from drive, such as hard disk
DRIVE_REMOTE 16 network drive
DRIVE_CDROM 32 CD-ROM drive
DRIVE_RAMDISK 64 RAM disk

Sample Microsoft Windows autorun.inf file

 [autorun] open=foo.exe bar ;ShellExecute=index.html icon=foobar.ico shellconfigure=&Configure... shellconfigurecommand=setup.exe shellinstall=&Install... shellinstallcommand=setup.exe ShellOption1=Text1 ShellOption1Command=option1.exe ShellOption2=Text2 ShellOption2Command=option2.bat label=My backup data 

AutoPlay

AutoPlay is the name of a different feature in Microsoft Windows. For example: When AutoPlay is enabled, and the user inserts an audio CD, Windows Media Player automatically commences playback (alternately, the disc's contents are automatically displayed in Windows Explorer). As with AutoRun, this feature can be disabled. Under Windows XP, there is a tab called AutoPlay in the drive properties dialog where one of four different behaviors can be chosen ("Play", "Open folder to view files", "Take no action" and "Prompt me each time to choose an action"). CD re-directs here; see Cd for other meanings of CD. Image of a compact disc (pencil included for scale) A compact disc (or CD) is an optical disc used to store digital data, originally developed for storing digital audio. ... Windows Media Player (WMP) is a digital media player and media library application developed by Microsoft that is used for playing audio, video and viewing images on personal computers running the Microsoft Windows operating system, as well as on Pocket PC and Windows Mobile-based devices. ... Windows Explorer running on Windows Vista Windows Explorer running on Windows XP Windows Explorer is an application that is part of modern versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system that provides a graphical user interface for accessing the file systems. ... Windows XP is a line of operating systems developed by Microsoft for use on general-purpose computer systems, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, and media centers. ... A tab in graphical user interfaces is a typically rectangular small box (usually containing a text label and/or an icon) associated graphically with a view pane. ...


The method described above only works for drives that are permanently mounted. It's possible to prevent the AutoPlay feature from searching a removable storage device for something to run every time it's plugged in. This is accomplished using TweakUI, a utility developed by Microsoft programmers for editing various portions of the operating system without resorting to the registry. In TweakUI, select "My Computer," then the sub-category "AutoPlay" then "Drives." Disabling all the drives will disable autoplay entirely. TweakUI is a free user interface customisation application released by Microsoft to aid end users in customising the Windows operating system. ... TweakUI is a free user interface customisation application released by Microsoft to aid end users in customising their Windows operating system. ...


Windows Vista offers a control panel applet to configure AutoPlay settings globally. Windows Vista is a line of graphical operating systems used on personal computers, including home and business desktops, notebook computers, Tablet PCs, and media centers. ...


External links


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