When downloading or installing SpeedCommander, your antivirus program displays a warning. The installation file or individual program files may be blocked, moved to quarantine, or classified as potentially dangerous.

Cause

This is a false positive. Many antivirus programs evaluate files not only based on their content, but also on their prevalence and age. A newly released version has not yet been downloaded by many users and is therefore classified as unknown or risky as a precaution.

SpeedCommander is digitally signed. You can verify this by right-clicking the file in Windows Explorer and checking the publisher under Properties → Digital Signatures. Select the signature there and click Details to verify the certificate’s validity. As the new version becomes more widespread, the warning usually disappears on its own.

Solution

1. Download the latest installation file exclusively from https://www.speedproject.com/download/.
2. In your antivirus program, create an exception for the SpeedCommander program directory. It is usually C:\Program Files\SpeedProject\SpeedCommander 22, where the number at the end depends on the main version you have installed. Depending on the antivirus program, this feature may be called Exceptions, Exclusions, or Exclusion List.
3. Temporarily disable your antivirus program while installing SpeedCommander.
4. Run the installation archive. Windows SmartScreen may display the message “Windows has protected your computer” because the new version is not yet widely used. In this case, click “More info” and then “Run anyway”. The publisher should be listed as Sven Ritter.
5. Complete the installation and re-enable the antivirus scanner.

Note

Only create exceptions and disable the antivirus scanner if the installation file comes from our official download page and the digital signature is valid.

In conclusion

We apologize for these false positives. Unfortunately, we have no control over how the software is classified as malware. For most users, Windows Defender provides sufficient protection; an additional antivirus scanner is not strictly necessary.