Forum Discussion

MCT

Jan 13, 2023

Solved

Antivirus deletes all shortcuts from the desktop

After this morning's update of security intelligence to version 1.381.2140.0, defender is deleting on all clients all links to applications; does anyone have the same problem?

yongrheemsft
Jan 14, 2023
https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-defender-for-endpoint/recovering-from-attack-surface-reduction-rule-shortcut-deletions/ba-p/3716011

micheleariis

MCT

Jan 13, 2023

Have released the updated to version 1.381.2152.0

Update

After updating and restarting, the links are no longer deleted.
The problem remains that if I run the search for a program it does not find it unless I add .exe (e.g., outlook.exe)

sjansen

Brass Contributor

Jan 13, 2023

It does not fix by itself, link files are deleted. You have to reinstall/repair the application to get these .lnk files recreated. I have around 50% of all client so far affected. Thank you Microsoft for this s§$&%§ Friday 13 event. It looks like we have to reimage all the systems. Fiddeling with individuel machines to reinstall all apps requires way to much time and personal.