I got Smart Fortress 2012 tonight and very annoying it was too. My Norton software was completely useless (FYI: the definitions were minutes old when my laptop was infected).

The Norton firewall was switched on and yet my laptopo got infected.

Mutiple Norton scans couldn't find the Smart fortress thingy, which left me unable to use any programmes on my laptop, access the internet (as the solution given above suggests) and so on

Thankfully I've also got a desktop so thru trial and error and google searches was able to resolve it - with no Norton software or related posts being of any use whatsoever.

Judging by the number of videos on youtube about Smart Fortress, this is a common piece of malware or what have you.

I'm sure there's a wonderfully technical explanation/excuse as to why Norton software was useless (or if I followed however many steps mebbe it isn't).

All I know is I've unthinkingly renewed my annual Norton subscroption in the past. Next time I'll have a good think beforehand.