“The requested resource is in use” virus popups in Windows

Learn what infection displays ‘The requested resource is in use’ error notifications when certain applications are launched, and how to fix the problem.

In a way, the computer threat landscape is reminiscent of real-world criminal plots, with villains and their accomplices working in tandem to pull off wicked felonies. Recent evidence of such a similarity circles around a computer Trojan referred to as SmartService. While this malicious code is not really a self-contained malware sample, it performs a critical task in some attack scenarios. Its goal is to make sure an affiliated core infection persists inside a target system and isn’t impeded by security tools. To this end, the Trojan prevents a victim from opening popular antimalware suites. An annoying byproduct of this routine is the display of a popup alert reading, “The requested resource is in use”. The dialog also contains a full path to the blocked executable and an OK button to close it.

The SmartService pest is primarily focused on terminating multiple security solutions as the user is trying to fire them up for regular maintenance or troubleshooting. It determines which processes to block based on their signatures and filenames. To be able to do this, the infection goes equipped with a sandbox list of all the targeted programs, the quantity of which is in the dozens. That’s one facet of this Trojan’s modus operandi.

The other has to do with protecting various malicious programs against being stopped or eliminated. When a plagued user attempts to end one of such processes via Task Manager or third-party optimization tools, they will get the following message, “Unable to Terminate Process. The operation could not be completed. Access is denied”. The functionality of the SmartService threat, therefore, boils down to thwarting commonplace security procedures, on the one hand, and helping bad executables persevere, on the other.

The intrusion of “The requested resource is in use” error malware is preceded by an ostensibly routine installation event. When installing some freeware, such as a media player or movie downloader, a would-be victim may overlook certain potentially unwanted artifacts composing the setup procedure. The peril usually hides beneath the default setup option, which is why it’s very important to explore what items the custom installation mode includes in scenarios like that. The SmartService Trojan always goes bundled with software that’s harmless per se. It’s the setup client that cross-promotes the infection. In case the attack has already taken place, resorting to a tried-and-tested malware removal methodology below will do the trick.

Automated removal of “The requested resource is in use” virus

Owing to an up-to-date database of malware signatures and intelligent behavioral detection, the recommended software can quickly locate the infection, eradicate it and remediate all harmful changes. So go ahead and do the following:

1. Download and install the antimalware tool. Open the solution and have it check your PC for PUPs and other types of malicious software by clicking the Start Computer Scan button

Download ‘The requested resource is in use’ popups remover

2. Rest assured the scan report will list all items that may harm your operating system. Select the detected entries and click Fix Threats to get the troubleshooting completed.