How To Remove Shortcut Virus in one minute

What is a Shortcut Virus?

A shortcut virus is a virus (a malware) that hides your original files inside shortcuts.

The way it hides the file remains unknown though the effect is quite visible. The original files are there in the drive itself, but in such a position that you can’t recognize it nor take it out (in the advanced stage).

Initially, it doesn’t harms your files but later on, it may make them corrupt or even delete all the files; depends on the type of shortcut virus.

Where did the Shortcut Virus landed in your USB Drive?

1. You downloaded an executable (.exe) file from untrusted third-party software which had the virus.

2. You connected someone’s malicious USB Stick which spreaded the virus in your PC from where it entered your USB on connecting it.

3. You connected your Removable Drive into someone’s PC which contained the shortcut virus from which it spreaded over to your drive.

Method 1 Using Software - 

UsbFix is a free malware removal tool to will help you to detect and remove shortcut virus. It can scan infected removable devices, USB’s external HDD’s, smartphones, digital cameras, etc.

It’s a plug and play software .Simply Download -> Open -> Run.

This software is planned by El Desaparecido and developed by sosvirus.net.

Vaccinate: Permanent solution for the shortcut virus. This option will create a new autorun.inf file in your removable drive. An autorun file handles the auto-starting of the drive. So, the newly created file will have protective measures to prevent the shortcut virus.

Repair:It repairs the damaged files of your removable drives. This will help in the recovery of hidden files, registry entries, task manager, etc.

1. Back-Up: You can backup your files before running UsbFix to revert things back later if something goes wrong.

Steps To Remove Shortcut Virus Using UsbFix:

1. Download USBFIX.

2. Connect your USB drive / External HDD drive which contains the shortcut virus.

3. Run USBFIX software.

4. Click on Deletion. On clicking it, the process to remove shortcut virus will start. It will then ask you to restart your PC.

Method 2 > Using command prompt

Open Command prompt as Administrator (Windows 7 or earlier: Windows key + R > Type CMD & ENTER, Windows 8: Search for “CMD” > Right click to CMD and Select “Run as Administrator” or right click over Start button and select “command prompt (Admin) “).

Connect Your USB storage (Pendrive/SD card) to your Computer.

Scan your storage with your antivirus program (Not compulsory but its effective) > If your antivirus found virus then delete it.

Type in Command prompt :  attrib -h -r -s /s /d <Your USB drive letter>:\*.* (See <Your USB drive letter> from My computer and then type it For ex, if your drive letter is “D” then the command is like: ” attrib -h -r -s /s /d D:\*.* “)

To know about this command Type ” attrib /? ” In CMD.

Now your Shortcut files again convert to normal files. Delete unknown files from your storage aftercommand process completes. I highly recommend you to after removing shortcut virus copy your USB data to your computer > Format the USB storage > Then again re-copy USB data back.