One of the crazy things that is circulating in our school computer lab right now is what known online as shortcut virus. Most of my students were complaining that their files from removable drive turned into shortcut after using it in our computer laboratory. I was shocked knowing that I have installed AVG Internet Security in all the computers. My curiosity on how to disinfect their drives comes into place.
But what it is exactly and how can our files be affected with this? Upon checking a lot of information online about this type of malware, it turns out that it is not recognize as a high risk type of malware. It will only turn your file into shortcut that somehow it will change the path of its address or file location into CMD32. When you double click the file it will give you black screen for sometime and it will open the file luckily if it is not totally screwed.
Some people don't know that actually their files are still there. It just so happened that it is now displayed as a shortcut. What others are doing they will delete the file knowing that it is now shortcut. I felt sorry for them for they are just the one who deleted their precious files out of ignorance. I too was ignorant before.
These are the things I have tried before knowing that there are a lot of software promises solution online BUT FAILED.
1. MalwareBytes - tried and failed to disinfect.
2. AVG Internet Security 2013 - It recognizes the presence of malware but failed to disinfect
3. Using command prompt - attrib –s –r –h *.* /s /d /l - it will bring back the files for sometimes but it will turn back once you plug your flash drive again.
4. and I tried some more software too but then again it failed.
I came across with KASPERSKY PURE, I tried installing the trial version just to check if it can disinfect, and it amazed me all the shortcuts turn back into its original files. I am recommending this to you guys if you are facing this problem right now. The only issue is upon installing and updating if you have a slow internet connection and you are in dire need of the file at the moment.
Here's a way of getting back the file without installing the aforementioned. Open your drive and right click on the file that you want to open and manually change the file location to its original state.
Here's how:
1. Make sure that you remember the original file name so that it will be easy for you. If by chance you forgot don't worry I'll explain here.
2. Right click on the shortcut file that you want to retrieve.
3. Choose PROPERTIES
4. On the TARGET you have to correct the file address location:
Type the drive letter: as shown on the picture below it is L.
the sequence will be filepath:\filename.extension
Example: L:\important.docx
5. Then click OK. If done properly the file is ready to be accessed now.
But what it is exactly and how can our files be affected with this? Upon checking a lot of information online about this type of malware, it turns out that it is not recognize as a high risk type of malware. It will only turn your file into shortcut that somehow it will change the path of its address or file location into CMD32. When you double click the file it will give you black screen for sometime and it will open the file luckily if it is not totally screwed.
Some people don't know that actually their files are still there. It just so happened that it is now displayed as a shortcut. What others are doing they will delete the file knowing that it is now shortcut. I felt sorry for them for they are just the one who deleted their precious files out of ignorance. I too was ignorant before.
These are the things I have tried before knowing that there are a lot of software promises solution online BUT FAILED.
1. MalwareBytes - tried and failed to disinfect.
2. AVG Internet Security 2013 - It recognizes the presence of malware but failed to disinfect
3. Using command prompt - attrib –s –r –h *.* /s /d /l - it will bring back the files for sometimes but it will turn back once you plug your flash drive again.
4. and I tried some more software too but then again it failed.
I came across with KASPERSKY PURE, I tried installing the trial version just to check if it can disinfect, and it amazed me all the shortcuts turn back into its original files. I am recommending this to you guys if you are facing this problem right now. The only issue is upon installing and updating if you have a slow internet connection and you are in dire need of the file at the moment.
Here's a way of getting back the file without installing the aforementioned. Open your drive and right click on the file that you want to open and manually change the file location to its original state.
Here's how:
1. Make sure that you remember the original file name so that it will be easy for you. If by chance you forgot don't worry I'll explain here.
2. Right click on the shortcut file that you want to retrieve.
3. Choose PROPERTIES
4. On the TARGET you have to correct the file address location:
Type the drive letter: as shown on the picture below it is L.
the sequence will be filepath:\filename.extension
Example: L:\important.docx
5. Then click OK. If done properly the file is ready to be accessed now.
Now that you successfully disinfect or correct the file location of your file but you might still be needing to use your flash drive in someones computer that you might feel it is also infected with that malware. Here is a way so that you will not have to worry much next time.
Open your drive and create a new folder, name it with anything you like. All the files on your drive put into that folder. If by chance you will use again the drive in someones computer you dont have to worry because all the files inside that folder cannot be infected. It might turn the folder into shortcut but inside the folder they are safe from shortcut virus. You may use the trick above to correct the folder location and you will need to do it only once.
I hope it help you guys if not fell free to comment and i'll reply as soon as I can.
If you discover some other ways to disinfect your removable drive, please do share in the comments below so that others will have a lot of option to choose from.
Cheers!!!
Open your drive and create a new folder, name it with anything you like. All the files on your drive put into that folder. If by chance you will use again the drive in someones computer you dont have to worry because all the files inside that folder cannot be infected. It might turn the folder into shortcut but inside the folder they are safe from shortcut virus. You may use the trick above to correct the folder location and you will need to do it only once.
I hope it help you guys if not fell free to comment and i'll reply as soon as I can.
If you discover some other ways to disinfect your removable drive, please do share in the comments below so that others will have a lot of option to choose from.
Cheers!!!