The shortcut virus is usually the most common malware infection in computers based on the Windows operating system in its different versions. It is a virus that has been around for many years, and that can be very annoying, since if it infects one of our USB memory drives, we can have serious problems accessing the data. In this article we explain the definitive ways to remove the shortcut virus .
What is shortcut virus
The direct access virus can affect both USB flash drives and the folders found on the hard drive of our Windows computer, although it is more common in USB memory sticks.
Infection by this virus can prevent us from accessing the data we have stored, which can be a real problem especially in the professional sector, since it can make us lose a lot of money.
The operation of this virus consists of converting the affected drive into a direct access, so that it is totally impossible for us to access its content.
How to clean shortcut viruses using CMD
The CMD command window is the first tool that we can use to try to eliminate the shortcut virus. It is a very advanced tool that comes standard with Windows 10, so we can use it without having to install anything.
To access the CMD command window, you just have to go to the Windows 10 Start menu and type CMD in the search engine.
Once the command window opens in CMD, you should go to the USB drive that has been infected by the shortcut virus. To do this you just have to specify the drive letter followed by a colon.
Finally, you only have to enter the following command , substituting x for the drive letter:
attrib x: *. * / d / s -h -r -s
With this you should be able to access the drive in question again.
How to remove shortcut virus with Windows Defender
The above method may not work in some cases, but don't worry, there are other tools you can use to try and remove the shortcut virus from your computer.
In this case we will use Windows Defender , the antivirus solution that comes fully integrated as standard with Windows 10, so you will not have to download anything.
You can access Windows Defender in a very simple way, using the icon that represents this tool on the Windows 10 taskbar.
Once inside Windows Defender, you must go to the antivirus protection section and perform a full scan of your computer. Some users claim that a quick scan is enough, we recommend that you use the full scan to obtain a higher level of security.
Remove the shortcut virus using Regedit.exe
If the above method doesn't work for you either, we have a third option that you can use to remove the shortcut virus. This option requires access to the Windows Registry to modify some values.
Modifying the Windows Registry is quite dangerous, which can damage your system and make your computer stop working properly. For this reason, we only recommend it if you know what you are doing and have experience with the Windows registry.
To access the Windows Registry modification tool, you only need to press the Win + R key combination, then type regedit and hit enter.
Now you have to access the following route in the navigation bar on the left side of the interface:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER> Software> Microsoft> Windows> CurrentVersion> Run.
Here you will see a large number of files that are running on your computer. If you see any strange names , it may be a file related to the shortcut virus.
You can use the Internet to find information about the file names that appear, this will be very helpful to identify suspicious elements.
To eliminate a suspicious process you just have to click on it with the right mouse button and then click on " Delete "
How to Prevent Shortcut Virus Infection
The direct access virus takes advantage of a feature that comes standard on most Windows 10 computers. It is an option that makes the USB memory devices you connect to the computer run automatically.
The shortcut virus takes advantage of a vulnerability found in this automatic run , so disabling it is a very simple way to prevent infection by this annoying virus.
In addition, it is possible that new viruses will appear in the future that take advantage of this feature to infect a computer, so we have a new reason to disable it.
Deactivating this feature is something very simple that we can do by following a series of steps:
First of all, you have to go to the Start menu and type " Gpedit.msc" in the search box to access this tool.
The seal will open a new interface with several options, in this case we need to access the " Equipment Configuration " section , and then click on " Administrative Templates "
Now go to " Windows Components "
Next, go to " Autoplay Policies " and then " Disable Autoplay "
A new window will open, click on " Enabled " and then accept the changes.
These are the most effective ways to remove the shortcut virus, and prevent infection if it has not already occurred. Remember that you can leave a comment if you have doubts in any of the steps that we have explained. You can also share the post so that it can help more people.