"Smart Engine" Virus

[randynavarro]

I've supposedly obtained this virus as I discovered yesterday.

I'm running the free version of AVG and after a 2.5 hour scan, it didn't find any affected files.

I've downloaded 3 virus/spyware apps after googling "Smart Engine" and all three apps find over 200 affected files but won't remove them until I pay for their service.

Any thoughts? Which anti-virus program should I run with?

[Ken Meyer]

I've been using Zone Alarm products for years, and really like their products and support. You can download & run free trial versions of their products and decide if you like them. What I use is Zone Alarm Extreme Security.

[Scottpat]

I have found that many of the "free" virus/spyware apps actually install the spyware on your system and then you have to buy their program to remove it. I stay with McAfee even though it is a memory hog and you have to pay for it. But on the other hand I never have any problems.

[David Meiland]

I run Malwarebytes scans on my computers fairly frequently, and occasionally find something that way.

[hausdok]

Hi,

I signed up with Cyber Defender at the end of August and love their service. I can call them 24/7 for anything I need help with. They have a tech log on remotely and then I can either sit there and watch him or her work or I can leave and come back later to find everything all cleaned up and running beautifully.

The first time a tech logged on, my old computer was so dinked up that he worked on it for nearly five hours without a break before he got it all cleaned up. I stoked up on caffeine and sat here all night watching the whole thing. It was mesmerizing the speed with which these guys can move through a box, go to settings for stuff and then adjust and tweak stuff in seconds that would have taken me days to figure out.

After I signed up with them and had been using their anti-spyware and anti-virus programs for a few weeks, my wife and a buddy bought me this new box. I called those guys up on the toll-free line, told them I wanted it protected and optimized and then I logged one of their techs onto it and let him work his magic.

Every morning I come down to a display showing me that the scan done that night was free of viruses and a list of the stuff that the anti-spyware software has identified. I can then pick and choose from the list and quarantine what I don't want. I don't bother picking and choosing, I just quarantine all of it. The box runs fine without any of that crap.

I did have a problem with my MagicJack phone caused by the software though. If for some reason I shut down the box, the MagicJack won't start until I shut off the Cyber Defender program. Once the MagicJack is booted up, I have to remember to turn Cyber Defender back on or my computer's fly will be left open and I'll be vulnerable.

The other thing is that sometimes the Cyber Defender techs can't work on it right away. If the tech they assign is in the middle of a project on someone else's computer, you have to wait for him or her to get around to you and there's been a couple of times when it was several hours before they got started.

It's nice though. I get an unlimited amount of help with anything computer related during the term of the service and I've been abusing the crap out of them by having them do stuff that I could do myself. I figure if I'm paying for it I might as well take advantage of every second of it.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[John Kogel]

I ran Free AVG for a couple of years, then their services became weak somehow, like they left cracks in the shield by mistake, maybe. []

Switched to Free Avast, and they were good, but not good enough.

To clear the last infection, I bought a Norton CD for $60 and installed that. This saved me sending CC info while my machine was infected.

I found a sale on Norton 2011 at the local Staples, so bought the disc to install at renewal time. $30 a year for up to 3 computers.

[davidlord]

My Mac just laughs at them.

[caryseidner]

My Mac just laughs at them.

That's cause Mac doesn't hold enough market share to justify the hackers time.

At a recent hacker gathering/convention thingy, hackers were able to break into the mac faster than the pc. So don't laugh too loud, you don't want to attract their attention.[]

[Tom Raymond]

You attend hacker conventions Cary? Somebody keep an eye on this one[:-dev3]

I hate anti virus software, it hogs resources and is every bit as frustrating as any of the glitches I've ever picked up. Don't put your nose places it shouldn't be and you won't catch anything nasty.

[Marc]

I hate anti virus software, it hogs resources and is every bit as frustrating as any of the glitches I've ever picked up. Don't put your nose places it shouldn't be and you won't catch anything nasty.

Even that wouldn't work.

I've had F-Secure for almost 5 years. Installed it on three computers with just one license purchase. Not expensive at all. The one my wife uses had an issue recently with the software hogging the memory until I reset it to auto-scan only in the middle of the night. I haven't been inconvenience by any virus or malware in that 5 years.

Marc

[hausdok]

I hate anti virus software, it hogs resources and is every bit as frustrating as any of the glitches I've ever picked up. Don't put your nose places it shouldn't be and you won't catch anything nasty.

Even that wouldn't work.

I've had F-Secure for almost 5 years. Installed it on three computers with just one license purchase. Not expensive at all. The one my wife uses had an issue recently with the software hogging the memory until I reset it to auto-scan only in the middle of the night. I haven't been inconvenience by any virus or malware in that 5 years.

Marc

Yeah, that's kind of my experience too; so far, at least. I used to pay McAfee for their program (think I'm still paying, come to think of it.) and it did nothing but bog my box down and cause it to hiccup during boot up. I never had good luck with Norton at all - it seemed to get into a resource dual with the anti-virus and anti-spam stuff that Microsoft has in the programs by default. The CD guy came in and either removed or deactivated all of those others and now she's running on one program only and purring like a kitten.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[kurt]

I don't use anything. Never have.

The only time I ever picked up a virus was at some porn site several years ago. It wasn't even good porn. There's a lesson in there somewhere........

My personal opinion is the anti-virus software is vastly overrated, sort of like lots of defensive positions, the rationale being, nothing bad has happened , so the defensive position must be working.

I understand there's a large world of individuals that will disagree with me on every point.

[hausdok]

I understand there's a large world of individuals that will disagree with me on every point.

Nothing personal; it's just the friggin' hat.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[caryseidner]

You attend hacker conventions Cary? Somebody keep an eye on this one[:-dev3]

No, I'm not a hacker. I read about it. I think it was an article on CNET, but I can't say for sure.

I use Microsoft Security Essentials, but I've used AVG, Nortons, McAfee and Zone Alarm. MSE is free (for Win7), lightwieght and updates daily.

Nortons & McAfee were HUGE resource hogs and I had a lousy customer service experience with ZA, although I liked their software. AVG let a virus get through on my last computer that ultimately forced me to buy a new machine, though my last one was 8+ years old so it was really time.

MSE has been good so far. It's hard to tell what kind of resource hog it is since my new box is an absolute screamer and I'm sure it could handle Nortons or McAfee. I just decided to try MS's software since they have made a commitment to virus protection optimized for their OS.

[Marc]

I don't use anything. Never have.

The only time I ever picked up a virus was at some porn site several years ago. It wasn't even good porn. There's a lesson in there somewhere........

My personal opinion is the anti-virus software is vastly overrated, sort of like lots of defensive positions, the rationale being, nothing bad has happened , so the defensive position must be working.

I understand there's a large world of individuals that will disagree with me on every point.

Yours is a Mac?

Marc

[Jim Morrison]

I have a deep appreciation for high quality porn, agree with Kurt, own a Mac, and don't worry about computer viruses.

Jimmy

[charlieb]

So, its you mac people who feed the porn industry! We're all PC guys. Why look at a screen when the bride is only a touch away? To each his own I guess. As far as computing this is.

[randynavarro]

Well. . .

I'm now running Microsoft Security Essentials, ran a 2 hour scan with only 1 infected file as a result. Hmmmm...

And by the way, my 'puter use is clean. This is the first time I've ever had to deal with a supposed virus or trojan. I tried to click on our vet's web site and boom. . . .screen goes crazy and up pops Smart Engine, which I soon learned is a bad thing.

Chad emailed a probable fix. Thank you, Chad.

[Nolan Kienitz]

You also have a possible solution at the ASHI Forum as well.

[hausdok]

I tried to click on our vet's web site and boom. . . .screen goes crazy and up pops Smart Engine, which I soon learned is a bad thing.

Hey Randy,

Email me the name of the vet so I know to stay away from that site.

ONE TEAM - ONE FIGHT!!!

Mike

[randynavarro]

You also have a possible solution at the ASHI Forum as well.

Got it. Cool.

I'll beat this thing yet!!!!

[kurt]

Got it. Cool.

I'll beat this thing yet!!!!

Are you going to beat it before or after checking out some high quality porn?

[inspector57]

Kaspersky recommended by my computer guy. He says the vast majority of his business is from viruses and people not using an up to date anti-virus program.

[randynavarro]

Got it. Cool.

I'll beat this thing yet!!!!

Are you going to beat it before or after checking out some high quality porn?

That made me laugh.

[kurt]

[:-dev3]