Addressing USB Drive Virus Warnings: What to Do When Your USB Is Compromised

Recently, I encountered a concerning issue while using my USB drive with my personal computer. After plugging in the USB, I noticed a significant delay when trying to access its contents. To pass the time, I attended to other tasks on my PC. Suddenly, Windows Defender alerted me to a severe threat related to my USB drive.

This situation wasn’t unfamiliar; I’d previously experienced a similar incident using my USB on a school computer. During that time, all my files had mysteriously transformed into a “.lmk” format, seemingly vanishing from view. Fortunately, I was able to recover my files using a simple command in the Command Prompt.

However, this new occurrence raised more concerns. After borrowing the USB to friends for printing purposes, I couldn’t rule out the possibility that it may have picked up malware from the school’s systems. Although I trust my friends and believe they wouldn’t knowingly infect my drive, I consider the possibility that the school PCs might harbor malicious Software affecting any connected USB devices.

In reaction to this troubling discovery, I immediately disconnected my USB Wi-Fi dongle to safeguard my Internet connection, thinking the potential threat might extend beyond just the USB drive.

As I share this post, I’m reaching out to see if anyone else has faced a similar situation and if there are important steps I should take to ensure my data’s safety. It’s crucial for all of us to be vigilant about potential threats, especially when using USB drives across different computers.

If you’ve encountered similar issues or have advice on handling such malware alerts, please share your thoughts in the comments. Together, we can stay informed and protect our digital lives.