How to remove Smart Guard Protection (Removal Guide)
Smart Guard Protection virus
The Smart Guard Protection virus (also found as the Smart Guard virus, Smart Guard Protection Malware Security Suite, SmartGuardProtection virus, etc.) is dangerous malware categorized as scareware and spyware (or rogue software) that is reported to install to a computer system without user consent and cause many complications relating to the invasion of privacy and cyber crimes including credit theft, extortion, and identity theft.
The Smart Guard virus may also cause other issues for computer and internet users concerning the loss of computer functionality as Smart Guard Protection is essentially considered a rogue Microsoft Windows Anti-Malware, Anti-Spyware, or Antivirus program. Smart Guard Protection performs fake registry and system scans concluding in fraudulent scan results that claim a numerical amount of errors or issues are found in order to scare victims into purchasing or activating to fraudulent Smart Guard Protection software. DO NOT PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT.
Once the fake Smart Guard Protection program is installed, to protect it’s self from being eradicated the fake Smart Guard Protection program will terminate legitimate programs used to remove it and block access to legitimate and helpful websites. It does this by displaying an alert message that claims the program has become infected with a computer virus or that the website visited is under a virus attack and may crash your system and that the legitimate program has been blocked from accessing the internet. An example of these message is detailed below:
Warning! Infected file detected Location: File System Behavior description: Destroys and infects system files. Suspicious activity detected in the application notepad.exe to the behavior of the virus Win32/Conficker.X. For your security and to avoid loss of data, the operation of application cmd.exe has been temporarily restricted.
The fake program also displays messages that claim the computer is infected or faces security issues. The messages displayed by the fake Smart Guard Protection software should be ignored as they are fraudulent. These fake messages are meant to scare computer users into activating the full version of Smart Guard Protection software.
Windows Security Center Warning! Suspicious activity detected. Virus activity detected. Attempt to change configuration files detected. Rootkit embedding attempt detected. Warning! Infected file detected. We strongly recommend activating full edition of your antivirus software for repairing threats. Warning! Network attack attempt detected. To keep the computer safe, the threat must be blocked.
The Smart Guard Protection virus may also install third-party software including Conduit Toolbar and other items. The third-party items are often attached to internet browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer as a browser add-on, browser helper object (BHO), and extension and are used to change existing internet browser settings. In turn this causes affected internet browsers to start up on and redirect to unwanted websites.
The Smart Guard Protection virus and similar rogue software raise many privacy concerns and are often categorized as spyware. Some reports indicate that Smart Guard Protection and associated parties may include users to marketing and mailing lists without user consent. Some users have reported unwanted email spam, junk mail, and even telephone calls from telemarketers concerning their recent computing and browsing activity.
Some may refer to this software as the Smart Guard Protection virus due to the deceptive marketing tactics used by the developer and distributors; however, this program is not technically a computer virus.
How does the Smart Guard Protection virus get onto a computer?
Smart Guard Protection can be manually and voluntarily downloaded from a variety of malicious locations; However, Smart Guard Protection malware is known to install to a computer system without user consent and will often bundle with third-party downloadable content such as freeware, shareware, codecs, and torrents.
Smart Guard Protection malware and related items may also download to a computer without user authorization via malicious advertisements, email spam, and compromised social media content. The fake Smart Guard Protection software is often present in exploit kits hidden on malicious websites.
How to remove the Smart Guard virus
- Automatically remove Smart Guard Protection virus – Scan for and automatically remove rogue Smart Guard Protection software
- Manually remove Smart Guard Protection virus – Remove/Uninstall Smart Guard Protection and third-party malware if allowed
1. Auto Smart Guard Protection virus removal
Use the instructions below to automatically remove Smart Guard Protection scareware and third-party malware.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware
Malwarebytes is a legitimate Anti-Malware product.
1. Install the free or paid version of Malwarebytes Anti-Malware.
2. Once Malwarebytes is installed, run the program. If you are using the free version of Malwarebytes you will be prompted to update the database, make sure to do so.
3. On the first tab labeled “Scanner” select the Perform full scan option and click the Scan button to perform a full system scan. Malwarebytes will automatically detect malware infecting the computer system.
4. Once the malware scan is complete, Malwarebytes may prompt a notice stating malicious objects were detected. Select the malicious objects and click the Remove Selected button to completely remove the malicious files from your computer (the image below shows a file that is NOT selected) or click the Delete button to remove quarantined files.
CCleaner
CCleaner can be used to automatically repair internet browser settings startup up settings, and uninstall stubborn and possibly rogue Smart Guard Protection software.
1. Install the free or paid version of CCleaner by Piriform.
2. Once installed, open the program and navigate to Cleaner > Windows/Applications and click the Analyze button. Afterwards, click the Run Cleaner button on the bottom right of the program interface.
3. Next, navigate to Tools > Startup and search through each tab starting from windows, internet explorer, etc., all the way to Content Menu, for additional suspicious entries and click Disable and Delete once anything is found. Something to look for might include the title “Smart Guard or SG.”
4. To automatically uninstall rogue Smart Guard Protection software and unwanted programs, navigate to the Uninstall tab and located software in the list of installed programs. Uninstall the programs as selected.
2. Manual Smart Guard Protection virus removal
Use the instructions below to manually uninstall rogue Smart Guard Protection software using generic removal procedures (if allowed), as well as third-party malware that may have installed alongside rogue Windows optimization software.
How to uninstall Smart Guard Protection
1. Access Windows Start Menu and navigate to the Control Panel.
2. Click Uninstall a program or Add and remove a program.
3. In the list of installed programs, search for Smart Guard Protection scareware and other potentially unwanted software. Once located, double click the unwanted programs or highlight them in the list and click the Uninstall button.