I recently reviewed the excellent AceMagic F2A, which features the latest Intel Core Ultra 5 125H processor, and while researching for it, I came across a website discovered that some AceMagic, AceMagician, Kamrui, NiPoGi and CTONE Mini computers are sent to testers with malware preloaded on them. The above brands are all owned by Shenzhen Shanminheng Technology Co., Ltd., also known as Minipc Union, which is why you may see clones of these mini PCs on Amazon.

The reports surfaced for the first time Toms HardwareAfter they wrote about Net guy’s opinion YouTube channel Malware detected on three of their AceMagic Mini computers, AD08, AD15 and S1. AceMagic claimed the malware only made it into the “first shipment,” with a representative telling YouTube channel The Net Guy Reviews in the following statement and also releasing a separate statement on Official Website:

Hi John,

Yes, the virus software issue has been resolved in the current in-stock product offering. This issue will no longer exist in the current offerings as the one sent to you was the first shipment and we apologize that it had these issues and caused you some distress. But please don’t worry, everything is resolved properly now. Thank you for your support!

So this worried me a bit, since I was reviewing an AceMagic mini PC for the first time. I decided to run some scans on the mini computers of different brands that I still have in my possession. To be clear, Beelink and GEEKOM are not affiliated with Shenzhen Shanminheng Technology Co., Ltd., but I decided to test them together with AceMagic Mini PC.

The criteria I used for all kinds of PCs was to reset Windows 11 from the Settings app via editorial board > recovery and choose Reset the computer Then Remove everythingand use Local reinstallation To make sure I’m using the image that shipped with the Mini PC.

I used the following antivirus (AV) programs, Microsoft Defender, ESET Internet Security, AVG (free trial) SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes Premium (trial) and apart from Microsoft Defender, I uninstalled all AV software after running the scans and restarted the Mini PC before installing a program Another AV.

I ran Microsoft Defender first, then I ran the Microsoft Defender Offline scan, which boots the computer and scans the entire computer for rootkits or persistent malware before Windows loads.

Here are the criteria for the third-party AV programs I’ve used:

• ESET Internet Security Detection Engine: 29137 (20240428) Custom Scan: Boot Memory, Boot Sectors/UEFI, WMI Database, System Registry and C:\

• AVG (Free) Version 24.3.8975.832 Settings: 240428-4 Scan After installation it is suggested to enable data execution protection for all apps and restart, then I did Deep Scan.

• SUPERAntiSpyware Version 10.0.1264 Database: 18116

• Malwarebytes Premium (Trial) Version 5.1.3.110 Package Update Version 1.0.83998 Component Package Version: 1.0.1219

Below are the results for all kinds of PC.

AceMagic F2A

After reset updated to Windows 22H2 22621.3447
Microsoft Defender Full Scan: Clear / Offline scanning: Clear
ESET initial scan: Clear / custom scan: Clear
AVG free initial scan: clean / Deep scan: Clear
SUPERantiSpyware Full Scan: Clear
Malwarebytes Full Scan: Clear

Beelink SER6 Max

After reset updated to Windows 23H2 22631.3447
Microsoft Defender Full Scan: Clear / Offline Scan: Clear
ESET initial scan: Clear / custom scan: Clear
AVG free initial scan: Clear / deep scan: Clear
SUPERantiSpyware Full Scan: Clear
Malwarebytes Full Scan: Clear

GEEKOM A7

After reset updated to Windows 23H2 22631.3447
Microsoft Defender Full Scan: Clear / Offline Scan: Clear
ESET initial scan: Clear / custom scan: Clear
AVG free initial scan: Clear / deep scan: Clear
SUPERantiSpyware Full Scan: Clear
Malwarebytes Full Scan: Clear

As you can see, all kinds of computer came back clean in several programs. However, if you’ve purchased a preloaded mini PC, it’s always good practice to wipe and load Windows on it yourself. Alternatively, do what we did and run a few different anti-malware programs through the system.

Also – and this is very important – make sure you buy your mini PC through first party sellers. On Amazon, make sure the seller is the brand of the computer selling it and not some middleman who may modify the mini computer and also lead to after sales service issues.