SmartScreen Filter flagging a download link as unsafe

pcunite · 15 Feb 2012

A program I often recommend to friends and family, FileSearchEX, was suddenly today showing up as unsafe in IE9's SmartScreen filter. Could it be because they released an update yesterday? How does something get marked as unsafe in IE9? I've downloaded the software and virus scanned it ... it works and checks out fine. Naturally, I'm embarrassed as people are telling me about the link, and it is only the actual link to the executable.

Maguscreed · 15 Feb 2012

Someone reported that site for some reason or another. I've been a member of forum communities before where a banned user has done this to try and give the site problems.
The best thing you can do is inform the people that own the site of the problem, as they may not be aware.

pcunite · 15 Feb 2012

Okay, wow ... I wonder how many people it takes to report a link bad to make this happen? I have noticed that CNET and some other sites are wrapping executable in their own installers ... I wonder if that could reflect back to the original link. Anyway, I'll pass this news on.

1Bowtie · 15 Feb 2012

Happened to me a couple hours ago on a site that many here on the forum recommend for music file reading (Jaangle) IE 9 SmartScreen filter told me the file was bad, but was OK

Jacee · 15 Feb 2012

Apparently the .temp files folder might be causing a problem.
Screenshot, Review, Downloads of Freeware FileSearchEX

pcunite · 16 Feb 2012

Jacee said:

Apparently the .temp files folder might be causing a problem.
Screenshot, Review, Downloads of Freeware FileSearchEX

I don't get what you mean?

coupdeforce · 17 Oct 2013

I just downloaded Windows 7 SP1 with IE9 from microsoft.com, and after downloading it told me "This program was reported as unsafe". Apparently no one at Microsoft is monitoring what gets reported.