Folder turns into application... A virus happened!

[chewythe2nd]

Hi everyone

I have a external hardrive that i plugged into a friends computer knowing he doesnt update hes anti virus and hes consistently picking up viruses
When i got back home my anti virus(microsoft security essentials) detected a Worm:Win32/Folstart.A i am not sure if that helps but ja my main folders turned into applications and the sub folders were left normal with my data in it. Long story short anti virus removed the main folder which i am guessing was the virus and i cant see or gain access to the sub folders holding the files because the main folder housing these files is removed and i know the data is there because it is still taking up space.
So is there a way to recover my data?

Thanks advice is appreciated

 

[szaboaz]

Hi!

Check this out:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/portal/threat/Encyclopedia/Entry.aspx?Name=Worm%3AWin32%2FFolstart.A

If a USB device is found, the worm searches the drive for folders that may exist and copies itself to the drive using the same name as the folder, without an extension. For example, if the USB drive has a folder named "New Folder", then the worm copies itself in the USB drive as an executable named "New Folder", without an extension. In combination with using a folder icon as its file icon, the worm does this to mislead users into running its copy, thinking it is the folder.

Got it?
Your folder was set hidden. You can tell your system to show hidden folders and files:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/Show-hidden-files

Do you see your folder now? Right click on it, select Properties from the popup menu. Untick the "Hidden" option.
Now you can tell the system to hide hidden folders and files again (as it was before).