How to prevent from Viruses from Pen drives without any Software

I think you all know that Flash Drives such as Pen Drives, Memory Cards have been a main medium to spread virus. We normally use Antivirus programs to prevent from such viruses. But I am going to tell you how to avoid from such viruses without using any software.

In this method we use the Command Prompt. By using this method you will able to prevent from many viruses. Let’s start!

Step #1. Open the Command Prompt. (Go to Start>Run or press Windows Key + R and then type cmd and press Enter)

Step #2. Now you have to go to the path of USB drive by your the Command Prompt. (Simple type Drive letter with : symbol and press Enter. E.g. G: ) .

Step #3. Then type dir press enter. Now you can see the Folders/files inside the flash drive. But you can’t see the hidden, protected files now. Now we have to use the command attrib *.* -h -r –s and press Enter. 

Now again type the command dir press Enter. Now you can see all the files/folders (hidden, protected files/folders also) in the Flash drive.

Step #4. Now we can remove the files such as Autorun files. Normally the viruses in Pen Drives activate with the autorun.inf file. If we can delete this autorun.inf file, virus may not run.

Step #5. If you find an “autorun.inf” file in the Flash drive just use the command del autorun.inf to delete it. (If you don’t need to delete that file just rename it using the command rename autorun.inf “any name” . It will not run that file also if renamed it)

Step #6. Now you can look for the files with the extension .exe . Normally viruses are with .exe extension. If you find a file with .exe and if it has distrustful name, then you can rename or delete it. Don’t delete until if you’re not sure that is unwanted.

 ( You can just rename that file if you are not sure exactly. Suppose that you find a file named xyz.exe then you can just rename it as xyz.exet by using the command rename “xyz.exe” “xyz.exet” . Later if you need that file again you can just rename it again as rename “xyz.exet” “xyz.exe”.)

Example:

Suppose that my Pen Drive has the drive letter G:

First we have to go into the pen drive using Command Prompt.

Now let’s see the files/folders in it. We have to use the command dir for it.

(To see larger click on the image)

Now we can use the command attrib *.* -h -r –s to see hidden file.

(To see larger click on the image)

Now again we can see the files (use command dir).

(To see larger click on the image)

Now we can see an autorun file as autorun.inf and a distrustful .exe file as New folder.exe .

Let’s delete the autorun.inf file and rename the New folder.exe .

(To see larger click on the image)

Now use dir command again. Now we can see the autorun.inf is not there and New folder.exe is renamed as New folder.xxxx .

Yes Now it is safe to use the Flash drive. Enjoy!