usb flash drive - Virus changed some folders and files' extensions to .exe

06
2014-04
  • masoumeh karvar

    A virus changed all folders and some of files on my USB flash drive to .exe files. I scanned the flash drive with USB Disk Security and scanned my computer with Microsoft Security Essentials, deleting all detected malware, but the files and folders on my flash drive are still shown as .exe files. what can I do? I can't format my flash drive because it contains some important data.

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  • Vaccano

    If I have a flash drive that I think may have a virus on it, but also has some important tax stuff on it, is there a way I can get at the files without endangering my computer?


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  • Phoshi

    Try Panda USB Vaccine, which automates turning off autorun (Meaning no usb device can infect your PC just from being plugged in), and features a function to attempt to protect any the device from being infected (Though don't rely on that, it might not work when you need it most).

    Once autorun is off, you can safely plug it in - just make sure not to execute -anything- on the drive. Yes, that includes your important tax stuff. Run everything through a virus scan.

  • Bobby

    Use a Live-CD to read out the data. Copy them into an folder (only the files you need) on your harddisk, and do a scan of that folder right after boot, before even looking into it. You should be save with that.

    Edit: Oh, and of course do not plug the drive in while in Windows! Wipe it clean (and I mean reformatting) using the Live-CD after you're done.

  • Nippysaurus

    If you don't want to install any 3rd party programs, here are some methods to disable autorun on cdrom or usb drives.

    Disable Autorun with TweakUI.

    The most convenient way is to install TweakUI a PowerToy from Microsoft we can download for free . Download TwealUI and install it. This PowerToy gives you access to system settings that are not exposed in the Windows XP default user interface, including mouse settings, Explorer settings, taskbar settings, and more.

    1. Run TweakUI
    2. Navigate to My Computer -> AutoPlay -> Drives
    3. Uncheck the drive you wish to disable the AutoPlay function.
    4. Navigate to My Computer -> AutoPlay -> Types
    5. Uncheck Enable Autoplay for CD and DVD drives
    6. Uncheck Enable Autoplay for removable drives
    7. Click Apply button
    8. Click OK button

    Disable Autorun with Group Policy Editor

    If you are a geek type and want to do it the hard way we could use the GPEDIT.MSC tool to disable Autorun. GPEDIT.MSC does not work on Windows Home Edition, only on Windows XP.

    1. Navigate to Start -> Run
    2. type GPEDIT.MSC
    3. Click OK
    4. Navigate to Local Computer Policy -> Computer Configuration -> Administrative Template -> System
    5. Double click Turn Off Autoplay
    6. Select Enabled from the radio buttons
    7. On the Turn off autoplay dropdown box select All drives
    8. Click OK button, Close Group Policy Editor

    Disable Autorun with the Registry Editor

    If you are using Windows Home, you can disable autorun using the registry editor.

    1. Navigate to Start -> Run
    2. type REGEDIT, click OK button
    3. Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE -> SYSTEM -> CurrentControlSet -> Services -> CDROM
    4. Double Click on Autorun
    5. Change from 1 to 0. The default value 1 means autorun is enabled on CDROM
    6. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER -> Software -> Microsoft -> Windows -> CurrentVersion -> Policies -> Explorer
    7. Double click on NoDriveTypeAutoRun
    8. Change the current valut to B5 in Hex. This disables CDROMs and USB drives

    Source

    Now you can safely connect the usb drive without endangering your computer. scan the drive and remove infections. for good measure you may backup your files and format the drive.

  • RussellBallestrini

    Use a liveCD (ubuntu is good). Boot to the liveCD and plug two flash drives in. Move the tax files to the clean drive.

    http://www.ubuntu.com