HOW TO REMOVE SHORTCUT VIRUS: 9 POWERFUL & EASY TWEAKS!

WHAT IS A SHORTCUT VIRUS?

There’s no wiki definition as such; but, as the name suggests, 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 on the drive itself, but in such a position that you can’t recognise it nor take it out (in the advanced stage).

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

Therefore, removing the shortcut virus is essential for getting your files back.

Fact

As long as the virus stays or connects to new devices, it starts multiplying itself and spreads across every connected device!

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FROM WHERE DID THE SHORTCUT VIRUS CAME?

Have you ever wondered from where did the shortcut virus land up in your Removable Drive or PC?

Here are the possible reasons because of which your Disk is suffering from shortcut virus:

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 spread 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 spread over to your drive.

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TYPES OF SHORTCUT VIRUS

Depending on its effects, it can be broadly classified into 3 types:

1. Drive Shortcut Virus
2. Folder Shortcut Virus
3. File Shortcut Virus

Let’s dive a little deeper into what each one means and what level of damage can it exactly do.

DRIVE SHORTCUT VIRUS

As the name suggests, Drive Shortcut virus creates a shortcut of the whole removable drive. This not only limits to Flash Drives or USB Drives but can also affect External as well as Internal Hard Disks also.

This type of virus is purely trojan where after entering into your Removable Drive, starts overtaking your files, grouping them and finally making shortcuts of your flash drive.

After the virus does its work, the only option you’re left with is, double click over through that shortcut to open the contents of that drive, and at that time, the malware executes, which can do anything (according to the way the malware is coded) like spying on your PC and browsers, steal passwords or just about anything.

FOLDER SHORTCUT VIRUS

Self-explanatory, folder shortcut virus creates shortcuts of folders and wraps its contents (files) altogether.

Less effective, but can still spread itself after executing to a number of other folders from where it can spy over on activities, upload data from that specific folder or do anything within the folder.

FILE SHORTCUT VIRUS

A virus that makes shortcuts of program files.

While this type of virus is the least effective, it can do more of damage when it attacks an important software’s execution file (.exe). On getting executed, this virus can also do just about anything inside the scope of that software. It also rapidly multiplies itself once it’s executed.

The way all these viruses work and affect is different.

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PREVENTIVE MEASURE TO STOP SHORTCUT VIRUS FROM SPREADING FURTHER IN THE FIRST PLACE

I already told you about taking the quick preventive measure as soon as you spot it, right?

So, what exactly do you need to do?

You shall first protect the infected drive from spreading furthermore.

To do that, follow these steps:

1. Stop autoplay of removable drives. This guide from Redmond Pie will help you to quickly disable autoplay of external drives.
2. And when you want to open and get the contents of your USB Drive, don’t double click and open it, that will execute the virus. Instead, Right Click on the drive, click Explore. This way, the shortcut virus won’t execute.

So, let’s get into the 9 Powerful (Yet Easy) Tricks to Remove Shortcut Virus and rescue your data!

(Already got rid of the Shortcut Virus? Vote for the method that helped you to remove it)

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#1 – USB FIX – SHORTCUT VIRUS’ QUICK REMEDY

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.

And here’s the kicker:

It’s sort of plug and play software i.e. Download -> Open -> Run and you’re done!

With over 5 Million downloads, it is one of the most trusted software to remove shortcut virus. Also, it is designed in a user-friendly UI which will help you get things done easily and faster. The size of the software too, is quite small (approx. 4 MB) which will run and help you get rid of the shortcut virus instantly.

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

FEATURES:

1. 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.
2. Repair:It repairs the damaged files of your removable drives. This will help in the recovery of hidden files, registry entries, task manager, etc.
3. 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.