How to remove shortcut virus easily - step by step

Want to know How to remove shortcut virus?

Then you are at right place.

In this guide, 

We will know all about this problem.

And find out how to delete it from your USB, PC and pen drive.

And fix it in such a way that it will not affect your device again.

When I first encountered this problem in my laptop, I thought it was created by me mistakenly.

But when I saw it for all the files and folders I become mad about it.

I’m sure you also came across this virus, at least, one time, if you own a computer.

You also get frustrated by this because this virus comes again if you delete them, and spread all over your computer silently.

So let know about this problem and solve it.

What is shortcut virus?

Well, there is not any defined term of it, even in Wikipedia but simply it is a modern virus which creates shortcuts of your files, folders, and drive and you have to click through that shortcut virus to open your files.

How it get inserted in my device?

This virus is mainly get infected by below ways

• When you insert an infected USB in your PC suppose you give your USB to someone to take some file, if his computer was infected by shortcut virus then your pen drive will also get infected. And when you insert that infected virus in your PC then your PC get affected too.
• When you download some files internet which is infected by this virus 
• when you download any third-party software from untrusted source
• When you connect your system to phone whose SD card has shortcut virus

How this virus is harmful to my device?

You might be thinking – It’s just a normal virus which creates shortcuts of files. But it is way more harmful than you can think.

• It Create shortcut of every file and folder and keep spreading all over your computer or pen drive
• It hides the files and makes them inaccessible
• Make your file corrupt

• And the worst part is that it can cause loss of data of your device.

Now, as you understand its harms. Let’s know how to solve this problem. 

I am describing 3 easiest methods to delete this virus, which are –

1. By using a software
2. By using Command prompt (CMD)
3. By creating .Bat file

Methods for removing shortcut virus

Method 1 – Using software

USB fix

By using this method you can remove and delete all the virus as well as infected files and folders from your USB and computer.

Step 1 – First of all download and install USB fix

          

Step 2 – Close all the program from taskbar because you can lose your unsaved data

Step 3 – connect your Pen drive or mobile device which you want to scan

Step 4 – click clean

After it scans and delete virus and infected file it will automatically restart

Step 5 – restart your PC again because it makes some changes to your computer’s directory

This is the easiest method you can use to delete this virus.

In case if the above method won’t work, which is unlikely to happen. You can try some other software similar to this which are shortcut virus remover, shortcut virus fixer.

Method 2 – By CMD (command prompt method)

This is another easy method to delete the shortcut virus from your device. Just follow these step

Step 1 - Connect the Pen drive or mobile if you want to remove the virus from it

Step 2 - Now open command prompt by clicking – Windows + R > type cmd > click enter

Step 3 - Type the following commands attrib ‐h ‐s ‐r ‐a /s /d Drive‐Name:*.*

 Or copy paste from below

attrib -h -r -a /s /d Drive-name:*.*

In the image below c is drive name

Make sure you type the commands properly because if you missed even space then the command will not work.

Step 4 - Click enter

And wait to see that screen like below. Means the C/: Users again in next paragraph

Now check your folder and files and delete the shortcut files and folder permanently.

If you find autorun.inf or desktop.ini just delete it.

Your shortcut virus is now deleted.

Method 3 – By creating .Bat file

In cmd method, you have to remove the virus one by one for each drive. 

Means if the virus is spread in all your drives then you have to type commands separately for each drive.

But by creating the .bat file you can wipe out all the virus from all over the computer.

What is .Bat file? 

.Bat file is an execution file with a “.bat” extension in its name. You can easily create this file just follow the steps below.

Step 1 - Open notepad (click window + R > type notepad > click enter)

Step 2 - Copy the code given below a paste it in the notepad

    "@echo off
     attrib -h -r -a /s /d Drive: *.*
     attrib -h -r -a /s /d Drive: *.*
     attrib -h -r -a /s /d Drive: *.*
     @echo complete"

Which will look like this

Don’t forget to replace the Drive name with your drives like C, D, and F etc.

Step 3 - Save this file as “removeshortcut.bat” and save it. (Remember to put “.bat” in last of file name)

Step 4 - Now go to the location where you save the file and open it by double click

Congrats! All the shortcut virus from your computer is now removed.

How to prevent shortcut virus from attacking your device again

Now you have cleared this virus from your device. But this is equally important to take some precautions so that it cannot attack your device again.

Here are those things which you should consider. 

• Always update your antivirus
• Always browse safe websites
• Don’t download software’s and files from untrusted source
• Always scan USB devices and mobiles before opening
• Turn off Autorun for USB and mobile devices
• Don’t share pen drive and mobile SD cards with those PC which don’t have good antivirus program installed
• Always run boot scans in every 2-3 weeks.

Keeping in mind these things will ensure that you don’t have to encounter this problem again.

I Hope you like this guide on removing shortcut virus.

If you feel any problem regards to it feel free to ask in comments.