USB flash drives are a convenient way to move large files between different computers.
But these drives can easily pick up a virus from the computer, so you might want to check it first before allowing the computer to access the files on it.
The guide below shows you how to use Norton to scan your USB drive for dangerous files.
how to check thumbnail drive for malware using Norton
- Click the Start button.
- Select the "Computer" option.
- Find a flash drive.
- Right-click your flash drive, select Norton, then Scan Now.
Below, our guide continues with more information about scanning a USB drive with Norton, including images of those steps.
When you install Norton 360 on your computer, you get more than just virus protection for your computer.
You also get a firewall, online backup storage, and some extra utilities to keep your computer running smoothly. But part of the antivirus protection that comes with Norton 360 is an active scan that you can run on any of your computer's drives or connected drives.
This means that any USB drive you plug into your computer can be scanned.
So if you are wondering how to scan USB drive with Norton 360, you can follow the guide below.
Related topic: If you're having problems with the Norton backup utility, our Norton backup settings can help you solve them.
How to Scan a USB Drive with Norton 360 (Illustrated Guide)
One of the common ways to transfer viruses from one computer to another is through external storage.
External hard drives, memory cards, and flash drives are devices that can be easily connected to any computer using a USB drive, which means that viruses can attach themselves to files on that device.
When the drive is then connected to another computer, the virus that was transferred from the USB flash drive may be transferred to the computer.
Symantec, the creators of Norton 360, understand that this is a serious threat, so they have included a feature that is automatically activated after installing Norton 360.
After installing Norton 360, you can follow the instructions below to learn how to scan a USB flash drive with Norton 360.
Step 1: Insert a USB flash drive into a USB port on your computer.
If the autoplay window opens, you can close it.
Step 2: Click the "Start" button at the bottom left corner of the screen, then click "Computer".
Step 3: Right-click the USB flash drive icon, select Norton 360, then click Scan Now.
The scan will start automatically and Norton 360 will notify you if it finds any threats.
If threats are found, it will also instruct you on the best way to remove them.
If you frequently connect an infected USB drive to several different computers, you should perform a manual full scan on each of these computers to try to eliminate all detected threats.
