Cososys upgrades tool designed to close Windows flaw

Cososys has launched a new version of its free Endpoint Protector auto-run disabling tool.

The company said the tool, My Endpoint Protector AutoRun Disable is designed to prevent the rapid spread of malicious software infections, including Trojans and worms such as Conficker and Stuxnet, which take advantage of Windows operating systems' auto-run feature.

Although Windows' auto-run feature can be manually disabled, it is disabled across the board.

However, Cososys said the major benefit of the new version of its tool is it does not disable the feature for all devices. Instead it takes action selectively based on device types (USB and other removable devices, CD/DVD, internal or network drives) or specific drives.

For example, a user can deny permission to the auto-run function of USB portable devices, while allowing it to stay functional for the CD/DVD drive.

Roman Foeckl, chief executive of Cososys said: “Conficker, Stuxnet, Downadup, no matter how you call the latest threats, the truth is they are all extremely easy to prevent. Device control and our solutions can prevent such threats from making a connection to a computer they target.

“My Endpoint Protector AutoRun Disable is free, easy to install and use and effective. It successfully keeps malware threats away from the protected unit, while allowing needed drives to access the auto-run feature and not impair the user’s habitual actions in any way.”

The company said the software is compatible with other security software and free to download along with a five-step guide.