Windows Protected Your PC

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen FAQ

The Issue

When downloading the Space Station installer for Windows, you may see a warning that says: "Windows protected your PC – Microsoft Defender SmartScreen prevented an unrecognized app from starting."

This warning is a false positive.

The Space Station installer is safe to run. It is digitally signed by John Wheeler and contains no malware.

How to Proceed

To install Space Station:

1. Click the "More info" link in the SmartScreen dialog

2. Click the "Run anyway" button

The installer will then run normally.

Why This Happens

Microsoft SmartScreen evaluates programs based partly on "the total number of worldwide installations of the programs with the same digital signature."

Since Space Station's Windows installer uses a newly issued code-signing certificate, it hasn't yet built sufficient reputation with Microsoft's system. As more users install the software, the warning will eventually stop appearing.

Verifying Authenticity

To confirm a downloaded file is genuine, you can manually verify its digital signature:

1. Locate the installer file in Windows Explorer

2. Right-click and select "Properties"

3. Click the "Digital Signatures" tab

4. Select "John Wheeler" from the signature list

5. Click "Details" to confirm the signature is valid

Questions?

If you have any concerns or questions about the installer, please contact us at:

[email protected]