diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
index d6a36ab5b..d2c8f578d 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/ransomware/ransomware_payload.py
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ from infection_monkey.utils.dir_utils import (
     file_extension_filter,
     filter_files,
     get_all_regular_files_in_directory,
+    is_not_shortcut_filter,
+    is_not_symlink_filter,
 )
 from infection_monkey.utils.environment import is_windows_os
 
@@ -24,7 +26,11 @@ class RansomewarePayload:
         self._encrypt_files(file_list)
 
     def _find_files(self):
-        file_filters = [file_extension_filter(VALID_FILE_EXTENSIONS_FOR_ENCRYPTION)]
+        file_filters = [
+            file_extension_filter(VALID_FILE_EXTENSIONS_FOR_ENCRYPTION),
+            is_not_shortcut_filter,
+            is_not_symlink_filter,
+        ]
 
         all_files = get_all_regular_files_in_directory(self.target_dir)
         return filter_files(all_files, file_filters)
diff --git a/monkey/infection_monkey/utils/dir_utils.py b/monkey/infection_monkey/utils/dir_utils.py
index 3cc839d0e..704556335 100644
--- a/monkey/infection_monkey/utils/dir_utils.py
+++ b/monkey/infection_monkey/utils/dir_utils.py
@@ -19,3 +19,11 @@ def file_extension_filter(file_extensions: Set):
         return f.suffix in file_extensions
 
     return inner_filter
+
+
+def is_not_symlink_filter(f: Path):
+    return not f.is_symlink()
+
+
+def is_not_shortcut_filter(f: Path):
+    return f.suffix != ".lnk"
diff --git a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/utils/test_dir_utils.py b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/utils/test_dir_utils.py
index b8ff47a65..8ebddf280 100644
--- a/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/utils/test_dir_utils.py
+++ b/monkey/tests/unit_tests/infection_monkey/utils/test_dir_utils.py
@@ -1,10 +1,18 @@
+import os
+
+import pytest
+from tests.utils import is_user_admin
+
 from infection_monkey.utils.dir_utils import (
     file_extension_filter,
     filter_files,
     get_all_regular_files_in_directory,
+    is_not_shortcut_filter,
+    is_not_symlink_filter,
 )
 
-FILES = ["file.jpg.zip", "file.xyz", "1.tar", "2.tgz", "2.png", "2.mpg"]
+SHORTCUT = "shortcut.lnk"
+FILES = ["file.jpg.zip", "file.xyz", "1.tar", "2.tgz", "2.png", "2.mpg", SHORTCUT]
 SUBDIRS = ["subdir1", "subdir2"]
 
 
@@ -91,3 +99,29 @@ def test_file_extension_filter(tmp_path):
     filtered_files = filter_files(files_in_dir, [file_extension_filter(valid_extensions)])
 
     assert sorted(files[0:2]) == sorted(filtered_files)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    os.name == "nt" and not is_user_admin(), reason="Test requires admin rights on Windows"
+)
+def test_is_not_symlink_filter(tmp_path):
+    files = add_files_to_dir(tmp_path)
+    link_path = tmp_path / "symlink.test"
+    link_path.symlink_to(files[0], target_is_directory=False)
+
+    files_in_dir = get_all_regular_files_in_directory(tmp_path)
+    filtered_files = filter_files(files_in_dir, [is_not_symlink_filter])
+
+    assert link_path in files_in_dir
+    assert len(filtered_files) == len(FILES)
+    assert link_path not in filtered_files
+
+
+def test_is_not_shortcut_filter(tmp_path):
+    add_files_to_dir(tmp_path)
+
+    files_in_dir = get_all_regular_files_in_directory(tmp_path)
+    filtered_files = filter_files(files_in_dir, [is_not_shortcut_filter])
+
+    assert len(filtered_files) == len(FILES) - 1
+    assert SHORTCUT not in [f.name for f in filtered_files]
diff --git a/monkey/tests/utils.py b/monkey/tests/utils.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1e55e9bc3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/monkey/tests/utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+import ctypes
+import os
+
+
+def is_user_admin():
+    if os.name == "posix":
+        return os.getuid() == 0
+
+    return ctypes.windll.shell32.IsUserAnAdmin()