Removal instructions for Smart Security

Content is republished with permission from Malwarebytes.

What is Smart Security?

The Malwarebytes research team has determined that Smart Security is a fake anti-malware application. These so-called "rogues" use intentional false positives to convince users that their systems have been compromised. Then they try to sell you their software, claiming it will remove these threats. In extreme cases the false threats are actually the very trojans that advertise or even directly install the rogue. You are strongly advised to follow our removal instructions below.

How do I know if I am infected with Smart Security?

This is how the main screen of the rogue application looks:



You will find these icons on your desktop and in your taskbar:



And see these warnings:





How did Smart Security get on my computer?

Rogue programs use different methods for spreading themselves. This particular one was installed by a trojan.

How do I remove Smart Security?

Our program Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware can detect and remove this rogue application.

• Please download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to your desktop.
• Double-click mbam-setup.exe and follow the prompts to install the program.
• At the end, be sure a check-mark is placed next to the following:
  
  
  • Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
  • Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware
• Then click Finish.
• If an update is found, it will download and install the latest version.
• Once the program has loaded, select Perform quick scan, then click Scan.
• When the scan is complete, click OK, then Show Results to view the results.
• Be sure that everything is checked, and click Remove Selected. Reboot your computer if prompted.
• When completed, a log will open in Notepad. The rogue application should now be gone.

Is there anything else I need to do to get rid of Smart Security?

• No, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware removes Smart Security completely.

How would the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware help protect me?

We hope our application has helped you eradicate this malicious software. If your current security solution let this infection through, you might please consider purchasing the FULL version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware for additional protection.

As you can see below the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware would have protected you against the Smart Security rogue. It would have warned you before the rogue could install itself, giving you a chance to stop it before it became too late.

Technical details for experts

Signs in a HijackThis log:

C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe

O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SmartSecurity] C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [SmartSecurity] C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe

Alterations made by the installer:

File system details 
---------------------------------------------
	Adds the folder C:\Program Files\Smart Security
	   Adds the file SmartSecurity.exe"="4/13/2010 9:19 PM, 1379840 bytes, A
	   Adds the file unins000.dat"="5/15/2010 9:59 AM, 4011 bytes, A
	   Adds the file unins000.exe"="5/15/2010 9:58 AM, 1180223 bytes, A
	Adds the folder C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Security
	   Adds the file Smart Security.lnk"="5/15/2010 9:59 AM, 825 bytes, A
	   Adds the file Uninstall Smart Security.lnk"="5/15/2010 9:59 AM, 800 bytes, A
	In the existing folder C:\Users\Public\Desktop
	   Adds the file Smart Security.lnk"="5/15/2010 9:59 AM, 807 bytes, A

Registry details 
------------------------------------------

	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	   "SmartSecurity"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe"
	[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Smart Security_is1]
	   "DisplayName"="REG_SZ, "Smart Security 1.2.1"
	   "Inno Setup: App Path"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\Smart Security"
	   "Inno Setup: Icon Group"="REG_SZ, "Smart Security"
	   "Inno Setup: Setup Version"="REG_SZ, "5.3.7 (u)"
	   "Inno Setup: User"="REG_SZ, "{username}"
	   "InstallDate"="REG_SZ, "20100515"
	   "InstallLocation"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\Smart Security\"
	   "NoModify"="REG_DWORD, 1
	   "NoRepair"="REG_DWORD, 1
	   "QuietUninstallString"="REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\Smart Security\unins000.exe" /SILENT"
	   "UninstallString"="REG_SZ, ""C:\Program Files\Smart Security\unins000.exe""
	[HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-{current user}\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run]
	   "SmartSecurity"="REG_SZ, "C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe"

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware log:

Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware 1.46
www.malwarebytes.org

Database version: 4103

Windows 6.0.6000
Internet Explorer 7.0.6000.16386

5/15/2010 10:20:48 AM
mbam-log-2010-05-15 (10-20-48).txt

Scan type: Quick scan
Objects scanned: 111079
Time elapsed: 10 minute(s), 56 second(s)

Memory Processes Infected: 1
Memory Modules Infected: 0
Registry Keys Infected: 1
Registry Values Infected: 2
Registry Data Items Infected: 0
Folders Infected: 2
Files Infected: 6

Memory Processes Infected:
C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Unloaded process successfully.

Memory Modules Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Registry Keys Infected:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\Smart Security_is1 (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Values Infected:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\smartsecurity (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run\smartsecurity (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Registry Data Items Infected:
(No malicious items detected)

Folders Infected:
C:\Program Files\Smart Security (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Security (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

Files Infected:
C:\Program Files\Smart Security\SmartSecurity.exe (Trojan.FakeAlert) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Smart Security\unins000.dat (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Program Files\Smart Security\unins000.exe (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Security\Smart Security.lnk (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Security\Uninstall Smart Security.lnk (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.
C:\Users\Public\Desktop\Smart Security.lnk (Rogue.SmartSecurity) -> Quarantined and deleted successfully.

As mentioned before the full version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware could have protected your computer against this threat.
We use different ways of protecting your computer(s):

• Dynamically Blocks Malware Sites & Servers
• Malware Execution Prevention

Save yourself the hassle and get protected.