Panda USB Vaccine and BitDefender USB Immunizer: Free Tools to Prevent Autorun-Based Malware Attacks

Recently we received following email from our active reader “Hemalatha K“:

Actually Windows OS uses “AUTORUN.INF” file from removable drives in order to know which actions to perform when a new external storage device, such as a USB drive or CD/DVD, is inserted into PC.

The problem is that this feature is also used by malware in order to spread by infecting as soon as a new drive is inserted in a computer. The malware achieves this by copying a malicious executable in the drive and modifying the AUTORUN.INF file so that Windows opens the malicious file silently as soon as the drive is mounted.

The most recent examples of this are the W32/Sality, W32/Virutas and also the W32/Conficker worm which, in addition to spreading via a vulnerability and network shares, also spreads via USB drives.

Today we are sharing 2 absolutely FREE tools to prevent this Autorun-based malware attack.

Panda USB Vaccine:

Panda USB Vaccine is a free tool created by Panda Security which provides following 2 features:

Computer Vaccination:

The free Panda USB Vaccine allows users to vaccinate their PCs in order to disable AutoRun completely so that no program from any USB/CD/DVD drive (regardless of whether they have been previously vaccinated or not) can auto-execute. This is a really helpful feature as there is no user friendly and easy way of completely disabling AutoRun on a Windows PC.

USB Vaccination:

The free Panda USB Vaccine can be used on individual USB drives to disable its AUTORUN.INF file in order to prevent malware infections from spreading automatically. When applied on a USB drive, the vaccine permanently blocks an innocuous AUTORUN.INF file, preventing it from being read, created, deleted or modified. Once applied it effectivelly disables Windows from automatically executing any malicious file that might be stored in that particular USB drive. The drive can otherwise be used normally and files (even malware) copied to/from it, but they will be prevented from opening automatically. Panda USB Vaccine currently only works on FAT & FAT32 USB drives. Also keep in mind that USB drives that have been vaccinated cannot be reversed except with a format.

BitDefender USB immunizer:

BitDefender USB immunizer is another free tool created by BitDefender Labs which is similar to Panda USB Vaccine.

Similar to Panda USB Vaccine, it also provides following 2 features:

Immunize:

The Immunize option allows you to immunize your USB storage device or SD card against infections with autorun-based malware. Even if your storage device has been plugged into an infected computer, the piece of malware will be unable to create its autorun.inf file, thus annihilating any chance of auto-launching itself.

Immunize Computer:

The Immunize Computer slider allows you to toggle the autorun feature On or Off for any removable media (except for CD/DVD-ROM devices). If you accidentally plug in an infected USB drive that has not been immunized, the computer will not auto-execute the piece of malware located on the USB storage device.

UPDATE: It seems both programs are no longer available for download. You can try following tool:

Autorun Eater: Remove Suspicious “Autorun.inf” Files from USB Drives