I recently opened my USB drive and discovered a shortcut to a drive, which caught my attention as it seemed odd. When I ran a command to reveal hidden files, I found a folder called 'sysvolume' and noticed that the shortcut was linking to it. This worries me because the typical name for a system volume folder is 'System Volume Information.' I also found that searching for 'sysvolume' online doesn't yield any helpful information. Inside this sysvolume folder, there are several files: a .bat file, a .bin file, a .dat file, and a .vbs file, all named in a random sequence starting with 'u' followed by numbers (like u176841). I'm concerned this could be a virus. If it is suspicious, how can I safely remove it from my drive? Additionally, I suspect I may have contracted this issue from plugging my USB into a friend's laptop.
2 Answers
It sounds like you've encountered shortcut malware. The name 'sysvolume' isn't typical for a Windows system folder, and the random files like .bat and .vbs are usually a sign of infection. These types of malware create fake shortcuts, hiding your real files and attempting to execute harmful scripts when opened. My advice is to scan the USB with security software like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes. Make sure to delete the 'sysvolume' folder and any suspicious files you find. If there's an autorun.inf file, remove that too. I suggest using the attrib command to unhide your genuine files, backup your important data, and then format the USB drive to be safe. Good luck, and stay safe!
Thanks for the insight! I plan to try what you suggested later today and will update you on how it goes.
Thank you! I appreciate the help.