TechnologySeptember 2, 2026
autorun
AW-tuh-run
Definition
A configuration or command setting that causes a program or script to execute automatically without requiring explicit user initiation.
Etymology
The word is a compound of 'auto,' from the Greek 'autos' (meaning self), and 'run,' derived from Old English 'rinnan.' It emerged in computing contexts to describe processes that begin operation independently of direct human intervention.
In the news
In this article, 'autorun=1' refers to a hidden parameter researchers discovered that allows a malicious prompt to execute automatically when a user clicks a link, posing a significant security threat.
'CoSnitch' flaw let researchers trick Microsoft Copilot into leaking data, poisoning memory
Read the full article ↗The Cool Down