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LNK is the Windows Shell Link format — the file behind every shortcut on your desktop, Start menu, and Quick Launch bar. A .lnk file is a pointer that tells Windows where to find the actual target: a program, document, folder, or network resource. It stores the target path, working directory, command-line arguments, icon location, window state, and hotkey assignment.
The format is a binary structure documented in Microsoft's [MS-SHLLINK] specification. It includes a Shell Link Header, optional Link Target IDList (which can resolve targets even if the path changes), and string data sections. LNK files also store metadata like the volume serial number and MAC address of the machine that created them — forensic analysts use this data to trace file origins in security investigations.
LNK files have a complicated security reputation. Legitimate shortcuts are harmless — they just open what they point to. But malicious LNK files can execute PowerShell commands, download malware, or exploit Windows shell vulnerabilities. The Stuxnet worm famously used crafted LNK files to spread via USB drives. Windows now shows a security warning when running LNK files from untrusted sources, but the format remains a common malware delivery vector.