USB Vaccine

 

This tool prevents viruses from running by exploiting the Windows AutoPlay feature that automatically runs multimedia files in removable (CD, DVD or USB) drives when they connect to the computer.

 

USB Vaccine is not installed by default. You can install it in two ways:

  1. From Start > All programs > > Additional tools > .

  2. From the USB Vaccine icon on the Toolbar in the main window.

 

Once installed, you can access the tool in one of the following two ways:

  1. From Start > All programs > > > .

  2. From the USB Vaccine icon on the Toolbar in the main window.

  3. From the program icon in the Windows taskbar (next to the clock).

 

The options available are the following:

 

Computer vaccination

The option Vaccinate computer disables the Autoplay on your computer, preventing certain types of viruses from automatically running on connecting a removable drive to your computer (for example, a USB flash memory).

 

Bear in mind that once you have vaccinated your computer, it won't automatically run multimedia files from removable drives. However, you will still be able to play those files manually, by double-clicking them.

 

If you want to enable Autoplay again on your computer, click Remove vaccine.

 

USB drive vaccination

This lets you vaccinate the USB drives that you connect to your computer. This way, these devices will also be protected when they connect to other computers that aren't vaccinated. To vaccinate a USB device, select it from the drop-down menu and click Vaccinate USB.

 

Note: Bear in mind that, when vaccinating a USB device, it will not be possible to re-establish the autoplay feature of the device after vaccination.

 

What is the difference between vaccinating a computer and vaccinating a USB device?

Vaccinating your computer prevents the automatic running of any multimedia files stored in any USB drive that you connect to it, regardless of whether the device is vaccinated or not. This prevents certain types of threats from spreading to your computer.

 

On the other hand, by vaccinating the USB devices that you connect to your computer you can prevent them from becoming infected when connecting to computers that are not vaccinated.

 

For more information about the vaccination tool, click here.