00:00Have you ever plugged in a USB drive, only to find your files replaced by strange shortcuts?
00:05This is the tell-tale sign of the notorious shortcut virus, a common digital nuisance.
00:11Your original data seems gone, yet the drive shows occupied space.
00:15Clicking these shortcuts leads nowhere.
00:17This sneaky virus often spreads through shared computers or infected removable media.
00:22It can be frustrating, making your important documents and media inaccessible.
00:26But don't worry, we're here to guide you through a reliable manual removal method.
00:31You might have tried running an antivirus scan, only to be met with a no-threats-found message.
00:37Many antiviruses detect the virus as executable, but they often fail to unhide your original files.
00:42This is because the virus cleverly uses built-in Windows attributes to mask your data.
00:47This is where the Command Prompt, or CMD, becomes our powerful ally.
00:52CMD allows direct manipulation of these file attributes.
00:55By passing the virus's masking.
00:57First, let's open CMD with administrative privileges for full control.
01:02Move your cursor to the Start menu, or the search bar on your taskbar.
01:06Type CMD or Command Prompt into the search field.
01:10Right-click on the Command Prompt application that appears in the search results.
01:14From the Context menu, select Run as Administrator.
01:18You'll see a user account control prompt asking for permission.
01:21Click Yes.
01:22A new Command Prompt window will open, clearly labeled Administrator in its title bar.
01:27Now, let's execute the command that will restore your files.
01:30First, identify the drive letter of your infected USB or hard disk.
01:35For example, if your drive is G, type G, and press Enter.
01:38Now, carefully type the following command, attribute S-E-H, R per second, D asterisk.
01:44Asterisk let's break down what each part of this command does.
01:48The S removes the system attribute, distarching it as a protected operating system file.
01:53The H removes the hidden attribute, making your files visible again.
01:57And R removes the read-only attribute, allowing you to modify or delete virus files.
02:03The S applies the command to all files in the current folder, and its subfolders.
02:07The D processes folders as well, ensuring all directories are covered.
02:12Finally, asterisk.
02:13Asterisk targets all files with any extension, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
02:18Once you've typed the command, press Enter.
02:20The CMD window will process the command.
02:23After it finishes, it will return to a new line, indicating completion.
02:27Now, switch back to your File Explorer window for verification.
02:31You should now see your original folders and files appearing alongside the shortcuts.
02:35Carefully, delete the 1KB shortcut files.
02:39Do not delete your actual folders.
02:41Also, look for and delete any suspicious single quotes AUTORUN.INF or single quotes.exe files that were previously hidden.
02:50Congratulations!
02:51You've successfully removed the shortcut virus and restored your files.
02:55Remember, always exercise caution when using USB drives from unknown sources.
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03:10And stay safe in the digital world.
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