We're gradually updating threat actor names in our reports to align with the new weather-themed taxonomy. Learn about Microsoft threat actor names
Worm:INF/Autorun
Aliases: No associated aliases
Summary
Windows Defender Antivirus detects and removes this threat.
The file has instructions to launch the malware automatically when the removable drive is connected to a PC with the Autorun feature turned on.
This is a common way for malware to spread. However, autorun.inf files on their own are not necessarily a sign of infection; they are also used by legitimate programs.
See our infographic to the right which shows how these worms can spread.
The following Microsoft software detects and removes this threat:
- Microsoft Security Essentials or, for Windows 8, Windows Defender
- Microsoft Safety Scanner
Even if we've already detected and removed this particular threat, running a full scan might find other malware that is hiding on your PC.
Disable Autorun
This threat tries to use the Windows Autorun function to spread via removable drives, like USB flash drives. You can disable Autorun to prevent worms from spreading:
