BitDefender USB Immunizer

The Bitdefender company released in April, 2011 the tool which will protect the user computers and removable media from the malware using the AutoRun function of the Windows operating system for imperceptible penetration into a system. The application under the name Bitdefender USB Immunizer is completed with the simple and clear user interface, extends in the form of the separate executable file and does not require installation on the hard drive.

Two different methods of protection are offered to attention of users. One of them allows to secure a system by shutdown of potentially dangerous AutoRun Windows mechanism. At the request of the user BitDefender USB Immunizer turns off function of autostart for all devices supporting such opportunity (except for optical CD and DVD-ROM drives), by modification of the corresponding registry keys. Activation and deactivation of the mechanism is performed by a one click on the button. At the same time it is worth remembering that switch position means activity not of a system of protection, and the mechanism of autostart.

The second offered option is protection at the level of the separate storage devices connected to the computer. The user can select one of available devices from the drop-down list and press the immunize button. After accomplishment of these actions on the carrier the autorun.inf folder, hidden, system and available only to reading, which contains the subdirectory and two empty files will be created. According to developers, this precautionary measure will not allow a virus to create own file with the same name providing distribution of the malware.

However, it is impossible to call the offered protection superreliable: to bypass it, it is enough to delete the created autorun.inf folder. However, developers from BitDefender claim that any of the malware detected at the moment did not make such attempts.

Bitdefender USB Immunizer 3.0

The Bitdefender company released in the spring of 2012 the third version of the free utility under the name USB Immunizer. This idle time in use the tool will reduce risk of infection of the PC and will provide protection against the malware distributed on portable USB drives.

There are many methods of spread of modern viruses and malware between computers. In certain cases it is enough to user to connect the normal USB drive then the malware will be automatically copied on the device to the infected computer and modifies the existing autorun.inf file. If you use the infected carrier with other computer, function of autostart will work and the virus from "flash card" will get into a system.

Bitdefender USB Immunizer solves this current problem by creation in the root directory of a portable disk of the autorun.inf file available only to reading. The specified file does not contain information and does not perform any useful functions. The read-only attribute protects the file from modification, therefore, the malware will not be able to use it in the purposes.

The offered free product is known for a long time, however in the new version several very useful additional functions are offered to attention of users. Including USB Immunizer 3.0 can brag of the updated design of the interface which will allow to execute vaccination of several USB disks in one step. Besides, the user will be able to turn off a one click on the button function of autostart for all existing carriers (certainly, this operation can also be performed manually means of the operating system). The mechanism of automatic loading and installation of updates is also offered to attention of users.