I just got a brand new SanDisk USB drive, but when I plugged it into my computer, Windows Defender immediately flagged it for containing Trojans (specifically trojan:script/phonzy.b!ml and trojan:script/phonzy.a!ml). I haven't transferred any files to it or used it anywhere else before, so I'm really confused. The USB seems to have some empty shortcut files on it. Should I be worried? Any advice on what to do would be appreciated!
2 Answers
Yeah, it’s becoming increasingly common to find fake or dangerous USB devices online. You may have unfortunately gotten one. If you bought it from a well-known retailer, definitely talk to them about it. Sometimes they'll replace it, and it’s good to let them know about the issue!
It’s weird, but some counterfeit USB drives can come preloaded with malware. The best first step would be to format the USB. That usually clears everything off it. Just right-click on the drive in your computer and select 'Format.' But keep an eye out, as some people have had the same issue even after formatting.
I ran into that too! I formatted it, but the alerts kept coming back. I ended up returning it and trying again; maybe your USB might also be a counterfeit.