SHORTCUT VIRUS: THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOUR COMPUTER GETS INFECTED | TechkiHow.

Ever thought of how you can remove a Shortcut Virus from your computer or your friends computer but don't know how to do it, if YES worry no more because this post on how to remove a shortcut virus permanently was specifically written for you.

Before I proceed I will like to explain what a shortcut virus is (especially for those who really don't know what it is).


What Is A Shortcut Virus:




A shortcut virus is a type of Trojan and Worm combination virus that hides all of your files or folders and then changes them with fake/false shortcuts that contains malware in them.


When you open any of these shortcuts on your computer or any external device connected it gets infected with this virus and it starts spreading in the process it starts stealing all your personal data and also reduces your system's performance.






This virus usually affect file sharing/transfer devices like USB flash drives, Memory cards etc sometimes they can be transfered to a computer when connected to an infected device.





Most shortcut viruses are undetectable by antivirus softwares, so the idea of running tons of antivirus softwares isn't just enough or ain't the right solution to remove this shortcut virus. The process of removing a shortcut virus manually is really simple to do compared to what most people think, all you will have to do is to follow the steps listed out carefully.

Below I will be showing you how to remove a shortcut virus from a USB flash drive and every other external device.


Here's:



HOW TO REMOVE A SHORTCUT VIRUS FROM A USB FLASH DRIVE AND EVERY OTHER EXTERNAL DEVICE





If your USB flash drive, memory cards or hard drive is among those drives or cards that has been infected with this shortcut virus, you will have to follow the steps listed out carefully;




Step 1: Connect or plug in the infected external device



Step 2: Launch your file explorer software using your Windows key + E(keyboard shortcut) and look under the Devices and drives option to find External device


Step 3: Try to remember the letter representing the drive e.g it can be E: or A: or C: etc


Step 4: Open the Power User menu using keyboard shortcut (Windows Key + X) and select Command prompt(ADMIN)


Step 5: Direct the **Command Prompt"* to the external device by inputting/typing the letter representing the drive as stated in Step 3


Step 6: Hit Enter


Step 7: Delete all the shortcuts stored on the device using the command shown below:

-----------------------------------
| del * . ink |
| ↓↓↓ |
|The command_|


Step 8: Restore all files and folders stored on the device using the command below:

[ attrib -s -r -h /s /d * . * ]
↓
The letters inside are the command.

We are done!!



I know you might be wondering what
** "attrib -s -r -h /s /d * . *" stands for, so I will be listing out what each of them stands for


1. Attrib: is a command which is a native Windows function that affects the attributes of a particular file.


2. -S: removes the "system file" status from all matching files and folders.

3. -R: removes the "read only" status from all matching files or folders.

4. -H: removes the "hidden_status"

5. /S: makes the command recursively apply to all files basically the entire device.

6. /D: makes the command apply to all folders.

7. * . *: makes all file names match.


When you're done with that, you will have to copy all of your files out of the external device and format the external device completely to wipe everything, then move your files back to the external device.

Tip: It will also be good to clean your computer too incase it also contains some shortcut virus.






See instructions on how to remove a shortcut virus from your/a computer completely below;



HOW TO REMOVE A SHORTCUT VIRUS FROM YOUR COMPUTER COMPLETELY




If its your computer that is infected with this shortcut virus then anytime you connect another external device, the external device will also get infected with this virus, but no need to worry because I will be showing you how to remove a shortcut virus from your computer completely without stress.


Note: Backup all your data first.



Step 1: Launch the task manager using this keyboard shortcut key (Ctrl + Shift + ESC)


Step 2: In the Process Tab just look for wscript.exe or wscript.vbs


Step 3: Right-Click on select End Task

Step 4: Exit the task manager

Step 5: Open the Start Menu

Step 6: Look for or search for Regedit(also known as Registry Editor) and launch it


Step 7: Navigate to the following below in the left sidebar after Regedit show:


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Run].


Step 8: Look for any weird-looking key name such as odwcamszas, JXYCKY etc in the right panel.

Step 9: Run a Google search on each one to know if its associated with a shortcut virus


Step 10: If they're connected, just right click on them and delete

Note: Make sure you know what a key does before deleting it, so you won't end up deleting an important key that will cause your computer to start malfunctioning.



Step 11: Close the Regedit


Step 12: Launch/Open the Run Prompt using the keyboard shortcut key (Windows Key + R)


Step 13: Type msconfig and click on OK to open the system configuration window


Step 14: Look for any weird looking .EXE or .VBS program in the startup tab


Step 15: Select each one and click on Disable


Step 16: Now close the System Config. Windows



Step 17: Open the Run Prompt using the keyboard shortcut key (Windows Key + R) and type %TEMP%



Step 18: Click on OK to open the Windows template folder and delete everything found inside



Step 19: Navigate to the following in the file explorer:

[C:/Users/[username]/AppData/Roaming/Microsoft/Windows/Start Menu/Programs/Startup.]



Step 20: After doing that search for any strange or weird looking .EXE or .VBS files and delete.




We are done !!!



Though it took a lot of time but if you carefully follow the steps highlighted I am sure you will be able to remove that Shortcut virus from your computer or any other external device.


Now we will be like this (lol)






Got anything you wanna add kindly drop it as a comment and we will be glad




Thanks for reading.. ...



Stay tuned for more updates



Share....