Inno Setup False Positive

Viruses and worms
1

Every time I try to run a setup file compiled with Inno Setup Avast gives me a warning that says

“You are opening an application that may be potentially unsafe.”

What is causing Avast to detect this as potentially unsafe? And what to i need to do to fix this?

(Excluding the file in the options or turning off the Auto Sandbox is not a solution as I need to make sure this error does not show up on anyone’s computer who downloads my software demo)

This happens with every script I compile in Inno Setup even if I create a new script and do not add any files to the project. Therefore I am 100% sure that it is not one of my files causing the issue and I am also 100% sure that this is a false positive.

2

Are you talking about this message?

3

This message will show with any standard exe file just as a warning. For example: If you download an installer from a site but your not one hundred percent sure its safe you can open it in sand box which will stop any harmful changes the setup attempts.

If you are having a problem with a specific program continuously asking for permission tick off the box circled in the picture.

This showing up does not mean the file is unsafe, or dangerous, its simply a new security feature avast has put into there program.

4

Yes, that is the message I am getting and yes I know that the file is safe. However, I need to stop this message from showing up in the first place.

What causes the message and how do I stop it from showing up on any computer for my setup file?

Does the setup file need to be signed? Can it be self-signed? Or do I have to buy a code signing cert?

5

The warning is shown because the corresponding heuristics finds the file somehow suspicious. Personally I’d say it’s a big too strict here… let’s see if the virus lab guys tune the rules a bit in the future definitions updates.

Signing the file would most likely help, self-signing not.