Remove Smart Engine (Removal guide)

Smart Engine is a new rogue antivirus application from the same family of malware as Smart Security , My Security Shield, Security Master AV, etc.

HijackThis shows Smart Engine infection:

O4 – HKCU\..\Run: [Smart Engine] “C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\da2933\SMda2_2121.exe” /s /d

What Smart Engine does

Smart Engine is not a legitimate security tool. It looks like a normal antivirus, but in reality, this program can not remove viruses, trojans, etc., nor will be protect your computer from legitimate future infections. Smart Engine created with one purpose to trick you into purchasing the full version of the software.

Smart Engine is promoted and installed via trojans. When the trojan is started, it will download and install the rogue onto your computer.


During installation, Smart Engine will configure itself to run automatically every time when your computer starts. After that, it will create several files on your computer, which later, during the scan, will detect as infections. These fake infections can only be removed with a full version of the program.

Obviously, such results are a fraud, the program want to scare you into thinking that your computer is infected with malicious software.

While Smart Engine is running, it will flood your computer with fake security alerts and notifications from Windows task bar. Some of the fake alerts are:

Warning! Identity theft attempt detected
Hidden connection IP: 128.154.26.11
Target: Microsoft Corporation keys

Warning
Warning! Virus detected

However, all the alerts are totally fabricated and must by no means be trusted!

Last, but not least, the rogue will disable Task Manager, block antivirus and antispyware tools from running.

As you can see, Smart Engine is absolutely useless and what is more, even dangerous software. Most importantly, do not purchase it. Instead, please use the Smart Engine removal instructions or the steps below to remove Smart Engine from your computer for free.

Smart Engine removal steps

1. Reboot your computer in Safe mode with networking.

2. Run Internet Explorer, Click Tools and select Internet Options. Select Connections Tab and click to Lan Settings button.

3. Uncheck “Use a proxy server” box. Click OK and click OK again.

4. Download Malwarebytes Anti-malware. Double click mbam-setup.exe to install the application. When installation is complete, make sure a checkmark is placed next to Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, then click Finish. If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.

5. Once the program has loaded you will see a screen like below.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

6. Select "Perform Quick Scan", then click Scan. When the scan is done, click OK, then Show Results to view the results. You will see a list of malware that  Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware found on your computer. Note: list of malware may be different than what is shown in the screen below.

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - lists of malicious software

7. Make sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Once disinfection is finished, a log will open in Notepad and you may be prompted to Restart.



8. Download OTM by OldTimer from here and save it to your desktop.

9. Run OTM, then paste the following text in “Paste Instructions for Items to be Moved” window (under the yellow bar):

Commands
[resethosts]

10. Click the red Moveit! button. Close OTM.



If the instructions does not help you, then ask for help in the Spyware removal forum.