Remove malware from data files on USB?

[puffball]

So here's the question: my father has Family Treemaker files on that USB that we really need to recover.

Because of the speed of the reinfection (none of the data files were opened after I copied them back on the the PC), I'm going to guess that the malware traveled on the USB, either in the folder structure or the firmware. (As a side question, can this USB be cleaned and safely used again?)

If the data files themselves are not infected, I thought about possibly copying them up to an online Dropbox or other account to strip off the malware (copying just the files, not the folders), then downloading them to a PC running Ubuntu (not Windows)...then transferring them to a fresh (never used) USB and back to the original (reformatted again) Windows PC. Or is there a way I could try to clean the data files themselves?

These files are not encrypted (no cryptolocker or ransomware), and they had their original creation dates when I copied them onto the USB, though that may not mean much.

 

[TwinHeadedEagle]

Hello,

Let's check if USB is infected.


Please download MCShield from one of the following links:

MCShield -Official download link

• Double click on MCShield-Setup to install the application.
  Next => I Agree => Next => Install ... per installation click on Run! button.
• Wait a few seconds to MCShield finish initial HDD scan...
• Connect all your USB storage devices to the computer one at a time. Scanning will be done automatically.
• When all scanning is done, you need to post a logreport that MCShield has created.

Under Logs tab (in Control Center) for AllScans.txt log section click on Save button. AllScanst.txt report shall be located on your Desktop.

=> Post here AllScanst.txt


Explanation: USB storage devices are all the USB devices that get their own partition letter at connecting to the PC,
e.g. flash drives (thumb/pen drives, USB sticks), external HDDs, MP3/MP4 players, digital cameras,
memory cards (SD cards, Sony Memory Stick, MultiMedia Cards etc.), some mobile phones, some GPS navigation devices etc.