Flash drives are primarily valued for their portability - necessary information always with you, you can view it on any computer. But there is no guarantee that one of these computers will not turn out to be a breeding ground for malware. The presence of viruses on removable storage always carries with it unpleasant consequences and causes inconvenience. We will look further at how to protect your storage media.
There can be several approaches to protective measures: some are more complex, others are simpler. In this case they can be used third party programs or Windows tools. The following measures may be helpful:
- setting up an antivirus to automatically scan a flash drive;
- disabling autorun;
- use of special utilities;
- using the command line;
- autorun.inf protection.
Remember that sometimes it is better to spend a little time on preventative actions than to face infection of not only the flash drive, but the entire system.
Method 1: Setting up an antivirus
It is because of neglect antivirus protection malware is actively spreading across various devices. However, it is important not only to have installed antivirus, but also produce correct settings for automatic scanning and cleaning of the connected flash drive. This way you can prevent the virus from being copied onto your PC.
Method 2: Disabling AutoPlay
Many viruses are copied to the PC thanks to the file "autorun.inf", where the launch of an executable malicious file is specified. To prevent this from happening, you can deactivate automatic start carriers.
This procedure is best carried out after the flash drive has been scanned for viruses. This is done as follows:
This method is not always convenient, especially if you use CDs with extensive menus.
Method 3: Panda USB Vaccine Program
In order to protect flash drives from viruses, they were created special utilities. One of the best is Panda USB Vaccine. This program also disables AutoRun so that malware cannot use it to do its job.
To use this program, do this:
Method 4: Using the Command Line
Create "autorun.inf" with protection against changes and overwriting, you can use several commands. This is what we are talking about:
Please note that disabling AutoRun may not work for all media types. This applies, for example, bootable flash drives, Live USB, etc. Read our instructions for creating such media.
Method 5: Protect “autorun.inf”
A fully protected startup file can also be created manually. Previously, it was enough to simply create an empty file on a flash drive "autorun.inf" with rights "only for reading", but according to many users, this method is no longer effective - viruses have learned to bypass it. Therefore, we use a more advanced option. As part of this, the following actions are assumed:
These commands delete files and folders "autorun", "recycler" And "recycled", which may already "capitalized" virus. Then it is created hidden folder Autorun.inf with all protective attributes. Now the virus will not be able to change the file "autorun.inf", because there will be a whole folder instead.
This file can be copied and run on other flash drives, thus carrying out a kind of "vaccination". But remember that it is highly not recommended to perform such manipulations on drives that use AutoRun capabilities.
The main principle of protective measures is to prevent viruses from using autorun. This can be done manually or using special programs. But you still shouldn’t forget about periodically checking the drive for viruses. After all, malware is not always launched through AutoRun - some of them are stored in files and wait in the wings.
Viruses cause significant harm to the system, so you should promptly protect your equipment and flash drive in particular from viruses. One of the system’s vulnerabilities is USB drives, which carry malicious software between devices.
Is the flash drive infected?
Any flash drive that was used on an infected device will also be affected. Most often transmitted in this way Trojans and worms. There are several characteristic characteristics of infection them:
How becomes infectedUSB flash drive? It connects to the system and, along with the files transferred to it, receives malicious software, since it is contained in the files and system code that is involved at the time of copying. As soon as the media is connected to the device and the system launches the infected files, the virus starts working along with them and infects the system of this device. Any flash drive connected to an infected computer contains the body of the virus, which also affects the autorun.inf file, thanks to which it immediately starts working on the new PC.
How to protect a flash drive
Protect your flash drive from possible infection malware can be used using system tools. The most important thing is to disable automatic media startup to prevent a virus from downloading to your device.
Disable autorun
This can be done in 2 ways. The first includes group policies:
In addition, when connecting a flash drive, you can hold down a keyShift– this will also prevent autostart.
The second method uses the Registry Editor:
After these procedures have been completed, the media will no longer start on its own.
Using the autorun inf file
The virus usually gets onto the media with the autorun.inf startup file, but if it is already created on the media, this will not happen:
Closed access
Sometimes it’s enough to simply block the device’s access to the drive:
All of these are system tools that help block access to the media for malware.
Applications and antiviruses
In addition to system tools, there are also programs that protect USB drives from infection.
Bitdefender USB Immunizer
Download free version The utility is available from the official website, it does not require installation and is extremely simple. After launching it, all connected removable drives will be visible in the window that opens. Having selected the required one, the user will indicate to the utility the object to be protected. She immediately disablesautorun viruses and blocks their automatic launch.
Panda USB Vaccine
After downloading the program from the official website, you need to install it on your PC. It is more complex than the previous utility and has a wider range of actions:
It's quite simple to use:
The procedure must be repeated with each USB drive.
Ninja Pendisk
After downloading the program, you do not need to install it. It works automatically and is capable of:
After downloading it works independently, checking each disk.
xUSB Defense
You can download the program from the official website, it's free. Installation is quick and simple; the program itself weighs only 1 MB and appears in the notification panel immediately after installation. 
The program can:
- automatically delete or quarantine viruses;
- do hidden files visible;
- restore hidden by virus data.
However, the utility does not distinguish malware from regular programs, so you should rename all their files in advance. In addition, it can automatically delete documents from the media, so in the settings it is better to disable the “ Work with documents».
When working with the utility, just left-click on the icon for the settings window and right-click to open the program menu. Clicking with the left mouse button opens the settings window, right clicking opens the menu.
It often happens that when we regularly use a flash drive or other portable storage device, we put our computer at risk.
This is especially dangerous when connecting someone else's USB device, the contents of which we can only guess at. Thus, the likelihood of infecting your PC with viruses is very high.
USB Disk Security (Russian version) – excellent software solution, which is capable of automatic mode check flash drive for viruses immediately after connecting it to the computer. Occupied volume random access memory so small that the utility can be used on low-power PCs and laptops.
The program is fully compatible with most antiviruses, such as DrWeb, Kaspersky, Nod32, so no software failures or system conflicts will arise, and installation will take a matter of seconds, because the size of this software is small.
The main task of the USB Disk Security utility is to provide maximum online protection against most types of viruses and computer threats, which are distributed via USB drives, memory cards, portable hard drives and other external USB devices.
Now, you can check your computer for viruses online (when you connect a flash drive) without user intervention - everything happens automatically.
Attention: USB Disk Security is not a full-fledged antivirus, but merely complements its functions in relation to external drives and is activated the moment they are connected to the computer. In other words, to achieve reliable protection To prevent hacking and infection of the system, you need to have a fully functioning antivirus with up-to-date databases and support for the firewall function. Only in this case can you be sure of the relative protection of your computer from viruses and other potentially unwanted software.
The highlight in Russian is its ability to check your computer for viruses online for free - the developers have created a special module that allows you to check suspicious sites for the presence of malware. In addition, the program allows you to adjust the list of startup applications and clean up garbage from memory. All this adds pluses to this wonderful and free utility. You can download the program for free from the official website, or you can use the link below (we have already done this for you).
All malicious files that intend to enter the user's computer will be isolated and disinfected from the virus.
Checking the flash drive for viruses is mandatory, but if doing it manually is inconvenient, we recommend installing USB Disk Security!
The most common cause of PC infection occurs due to an outdated anti-virus database that does not have information about new threats. USB DISK SECURITY has its own unique algorithm for identifying malicious code sections, which allows you to quickly respond to security threats.
It is very easy to infect a computer with a virus, and an external storage device is even easier. They know how to protect a flash drive from viruses with special programs and banal precautions: this article will tell you in detail about each option. The effectiveness of the method depends on many factors, but even if the flash card is used fully and regularly, its safety can and should be ensured.
Basic Rules
Before you protect your flash drive from viruses, you must make sure that this moment it and your device are not carriers malware. You should start with a device that regularly interacts with the carrier. After checking it with the program, disable auto-download of files for all hard drives: This can be done through normal settings, or using programs.
Since it is more difficult to protect data on a flash drive from virus infection, at this stage you need to be especially careful, and you need to devote as much personal time to the process as the method of protection requires. Many people advise blocking access to the card for all strangers, and this helps in 99 percent of cases. However, it will still be faster to use special programs, which are described below in the article.
Additional protection
If the methods described above could not tell you how to make a flash drive protected from viruses, for example, because you do not have access to a desktop computer to carry out the necessary manipulations, contact a specialist. During operation, they install security programs or deny access to the media for all programs not approved by device administrators. Although this procedure is not worth it big money, you can do the same thing yourself.
Protection using autorun inf
Viruses mainly spread their influence specifically to this file in an external drive, so the most common way to deal with them is to work with the autoran.
Instructions:
- Open notepad;
- Copy and paste the following commands into it:
"attrib -S -H -R -A autorun.*
del autorun.*
attrib -S -H -R -A recycler
rd "\\?\%~d0\recycler\" /s /q
attrib -S -H -R -A recycled
rd "\\?\%~d0\recycled\" /s /q
mkdir "\\?\%~d0\AUTORUN.INF\LPT3″
attrib +S +H +R +A %~d0\AUTORUN.INF /s /d
mkdir "\\?\%~d0\RECYCLED\LPT3″
attrib +S +H +R +A %~d0\RECYCLED /s /d
mkdir "\\?\%~d0\RECYCLER\LPT3″
attrib +S +H +R +A %~d0\RECYCLER /s /dattrib -s -h -r autorun.*
del autorun.*
mkdir %~d0AUTORUN.INF
mkdir "?%~d0AUTORUN.INF.."
attrib +s +h %~d0AUTORUN.INF"
- Save the file to a flash card in “.bat” format;
- Run this file.
Popular programs
After the protection usb flash drives autorun inf was produced against viruses; additional protectors can be used as a preventive measure. For example, free “Bitdefender USB Immunizer”, “Panda USB Vaccine”, “Ninja Pendisk” and others. Since programs for protecting flash drives from viruses have different functionality, it is impossible to say unequivocally which one is better.
Checking for viruses
It is important to be interested not only in whether there is a problem in the media itself, but also in how to protect your computer from viruses from a flash drive. This will make the process more efficient, so both options for searching for malicious files are discussed below.
Checking the flash card:
Checking your computer
The most the best way installation of an antivirus program is considered. This is due to the fact that it is more difficult to track new files here, which means it will be much more convenient and faster if a robot does this work for you. Any known antivirus will do.
In this lesson I will tell you how to protect a flash drive from viruses. This method will be useful to flash drive owners with both file system FAT32 and NTFS.
The first step is to decide on the file system. To do this, insert the flash drive into usb port, then go to “My Computer”, click on the removable disk icon right key mouse and go to its properties. A new window will open in which you can easily specify the file system of your flash drive.
If the flash drive belongs to one of those systems that I mentioned above, then everything is fine. If not, then it needs to be formatted. To do this, right-click on the removable disk icon and select "Format...". In the window that appears, select “File system”, check the “Quick (cleaning table of contents)” checkbox and click the “Start” button.
For different file systems it is necessary to use absolutely different ways protection. We will analyze the first method for a flash drive with the NTFS file system.
How to protect a flash drive from viruses (NTFS).
First of all, go to the flash drive and create a regular folder. The name can be given as you wish.
Next, return to “My Computer” and again go to the properties of the flash drive. Now go to the “Security” tab and click on the “Change” button. Next, for all users we leave only 2 items “List of folder contents” and “Reading”. At the end, click "Ok".
If you now want to copy or create something in root directory flash drives, then you won’t succeed and an error will pop up stating that you need permission to perform this operation.
But that's not all. Right-click on the previously created folder and go to its properties. On the "Security" tab, click on the "Change" button and give " Full access" for all users.
This is done so that we can work with this folder, for example, copy some files to it, while access to the root of the flash drive is prohibited.
If your flash drive is in FAT32 format, then the instructions below will help you protect it.
How to protect a flash drive from viruses (FAT32).
First, as in the case of NTFS, the flash drive must be formatted. Only in this case we select the FAT32 file system.
The next step is to launch " Command line" on behalf of the administrator. Go to "Let -> All programs -> Accessories", then right-click on the desired item and select "Run as administrator" from the list.
We write the first command: md disk_number:\autorun.inf. In my case the drive name is F. Thus we create special file startup.
Next command: attrib +s +h +r disk_number:\autorun.inf. By this we say that the file must be assigned the following attributes: system, hidden and read-only (prohibits its writing).
Of course, this is not 100% protection against viruses, but in most cases it can save you from malware that is distributed through the autorun.inf file.
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