What is the best way to protect against USB/Flash viruses?

I am finding recently that viruses which automatically insert themselves into USB drives or flash disks are becoming common. I have twice been infected, and both times, the virus was particularly nasty and difficult to remove.

They tend to disguise themselves as folders. The first one named itself "new folder". Once you attempted to open it, you were infected. Norton could not remove it. Only by running numerous programs and using the help of forum experts was I able to get my computer back in operation. Even almost a year later, the system does not run like it should.

The second one would create exe files that look like existing folders in the flash card/USB drive, then hide the real folders. It rebooted my computer, even without me activating the file, and apparently used itself to hijack the computer during the reboot process, as it became stuck in a continual restart loop.

Are there any programs that can be installed on flash drives to prevent them from being infected by infected computers? Can you set your computer to not autorun programs on removable media without receiving permission first?

Thank you!

 

well i have a wright protected flash drive, its memorex 1 GB which i got from some old goods market for just Rs. 300/-,No problem of virus for. To copy the files into it i have to remove the lock and again lock i if i use it in virus infected system

 

Try being safer and smarter on the internet. Only download from trusted places, Dont click links in emails, dont click links from comments or messages in facebook unless you know they are not bogus(as in you call or somehow confirm with a friend about the link)

Hope this helps.

 

Take a look at a thread I started a little while ago.

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=182583