Remove Smart Virus Eliminator (Removal Guide)

Posted by Grinler on August 18, 2009 @ 07:29 PM · Views: 12,831

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What this programs does:

Smart Virus Eliminator is a rogue anti-spyware program from the same family as Windows Protection Suite. Smart Virus Eliminator uses fake scan results and false security alerts as a tactic to make you think you are infected. It does this because the developers feel if they can convince you that your computer is infected then you will be more likely to purchase it. In reality, though, when you purchase Smart Virus Eliminator it does not provide any protection at all. Instead it just scams you out of your money. If you have paid for the this program already then I suggest you contact your credit card company and dispute the charges.

Smart Virus Eliminator screen shot
For more screen shots of this infection click on the image above.
There are a total of 7 images you can view.

When Smart Virus Eliminator is installed it will be configured to start automatically when you login to Windows. It will also create numerous, but harmless, files on your computer that will be detected as malware when the program scans your computer. When the program performs a scan it will detect the files it had created during its installation, but not allow you to remove them until you purchase it. Essentially it is trying to get you to pay for a program so that it can remove the harmless files it created in the first place.

While the program is running you will also see a constant barrage of fake security alerts and warnings on your computer. These warnings will state that your computer is infected or that someone is trying to hack your computer and then suggest you purchase Smart Virus Eliminator to protect yourself. These alerts, like the fake infections, are just another attempt of the program to try and convince you that you are infected. It goes without saying that you should ignore anything this program reports to you.

If you are infected with this rogue, then please do not purchase it. Instead use the removal guide below to remove this program and related malware for free.

Threat Classification:

• Information on Rogue Programs & Scareware

Advanced information:

View Smart Virus Eliminator files.
View Smart Virus Eliminator Registry Information.

Tools Needed for this fix:

• Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware

Symptoms that may be in a HijackThis Log:

Note: The name of the files and directory for this rogue are random.

O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 4-open-davinci.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 securitysoftwarepayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.privatesecuredpayments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getantivirusplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.secure-plus-payments.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.getavplusnow.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 www.securesoftwarebill.com
O1 - Hosts: 74.125.45.100 secure.paysecuresystem.com
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ae
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.as
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.at
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.az
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ba
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.be
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.bg
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.bs
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ca
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.cd
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.gh
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.hk
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.jm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.mx
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.my
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.na
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.nf
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.ng
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ch
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.np
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.pr
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.qa
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.sg
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.tj
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.tw
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.dj
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.de
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.dk
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.dm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ee
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.fi
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.fm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.fr
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ge
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.gg
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.gm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.gr
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ht
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ie
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.im
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.in
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.it
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ki
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.la
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.li
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.lv
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ma
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ms
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.mu
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.mw
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.nl
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.no
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.nr
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.nu
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.pl
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.pn
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.pt
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ro
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ru
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.rw
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.sc
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.se
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.sh
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.si
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.sm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.sn
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.st
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.tl
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.tm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.tt
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.us
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.vu
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.ws
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.ck
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.id
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.il
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.in
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.jp
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.kr
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.ls
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.ma
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.nz
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.tz
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.ug
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.uk
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.za
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.co.zm
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.af
O1 - Hosts: 64.86.17.32 google.com.ag
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Smart Virus Eliminator] "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\61a60\SM83b.exe" /s /d

Guide Updates:

08/18/09 - Initial guide creation.

Automated Removal Instructions for Smart Virus Eliminator using Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware:

1. Print out these instructions as we will need to close every window that is open later in the fix.
   
   
2. Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware, or MBAM, from the following location and save it to your desktop:
   
   Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware Download Link
   
   


3. Once downloaded, close all programs and Windows on your computer, including this one.
   
   
4. Double-click on the icon on your desktop named mbam-setup.exe. This will start the installation of MBAM onto your computer.
   
   
5. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
   
   
6. MBAM will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan. As MBAM will automatically update itself after the install, you can press the OK button to close that box and you will now be at the main program as shown below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform full scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Smart Virus Eliminator related files.
   
   
8. MBAM will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan. When MBAM is scanning it will look like the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
9. When the scan is finished a message box will appear as shown in the image below.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   You should click on the OK button to close the message box and continue with the Smart Virus Eliminator removal process.
   
   
10. You will now be back at the main Scanner screen. At this point you should click on the Show Results button.
    
    
11. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown as seen in the image below. Please note that the infections found may be different than what is shown in the image.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    You should now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. MBAM will now delete all of the files and registry keys and add them to the programs quarantine. When removing the files, MBAM may require a reboot in order to remove some of them. If it displays a message stating that it needs to reboot, please allow it to do so. Once your computer has rebooted, and you are logged in, please continue with the rest of the steps.
    
    
12. When MBAM has finished removing the malware, it will open the scan log and display it in Notepad. Review the log as desired, and then close the Notepad window.
    
    
13. You can now exit the MBAM program.
    

Your computer should now be free of the Smart Virus Eliminator program. If your current anti-virus solution let this infection through, you may want to consider purchasing the PRO version of Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware to protect against these types of threats in the future.

If you are still having problems with your computer after completing these instructions, then please follow the steps outlined in the topic linked below:

Preparation Guide For Use Before Using Malware Removal Tools and Requesting Help

Associated Smart Virus Eliminator Files:

Note: The name of the files and directory for this rogue are random.

c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\61a60
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\61a60\SM83b.exe
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SMVESys
c:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\SMVESys\smve.cfg
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Smart Virus Eliminator
%UserProfile%\Application Data\Smart Virus Eliminator\cookies.sqlite
%UserProfile%\Desktop\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp\asp2009.exe
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
%UserProfile%\Start Menu\Programs\Smart Virus Eliminator.lnk
c:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\searchplugins\search.xml

Associated Smart Virus Eliminator Windows Registry Information:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\asp2009.DocHostUIHandler
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{3F2BBC05-40DF-11D2-9455-00104BC936FF}
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchScopes "URL" = "http://search-gala.com/?&uid=8000&q={searchTerms}"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer "PRS"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Internet Settings\5.0\User Agent\Post Platform "969904308603"
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run "Smart Virus Eliminator"