[GNC] Windows 11 security blocker

[Ken Pyzik]

Sorry - forgot to copy the group the first time:

Barry -- as I mentioned before - this is the nature of anti-virus 
software.  I had this exact situation happen to me with Libre Office.  
Always downloaded fine.  Then, one day, I had a power blip while working 
in it.  Libre's natural course was to back itself up and it tried 
several unsuccessful writes to my disk.  Malwarebytes flagged the 
behavior and said -- this is a virus -- and specifically flagged it.  
Once it was flagged, I could not use the program any longer.  I even 
de-installed Malwarebytes and still could not use the program.  I tried 
to re-install Libre and it still would not work.

I investigated and found out that many anti-virus programs work like 
this.  Once something is flagged - the only way to "undo" the flag is to 
specifically go into the anti-virus software and tell it that the 
program is allowed/OK.  Once something is flagged - you must 
specifically tell the anti-virus software that it is OK.  The reason for 
this is because if it did not work this way, the virus, once on your 
computer, would hide itself, wait for you to unistalled or deactivate 
the anti-virus and then go do it's thing.  To prevent this, the 
anti-virus software flags the behavior and program at the kernel level 
so that EVEN if the anti-virus software is deactivated or uninstalled, 
the flagged program cannot "infect" the computer.

If GNUCash was not flagged - you could just de-install AVAST and install 
GNUCash.  However, ONCE SPECIFICALLY FLAGGED by the anti-virus -- you 
must tell the anti-virus software that GNUCash is OK/Allowed/Not a 
virus.

I could be wrong in you particular situation -- but I am just trying to 
demonstrate that -- yes -- you could be doing everything correct -- but 
your computer still believes GNUCash is a virus and will not let you 
install until you tell AVAST or DEFENDER that GNUCash is OK.

You don't have to take my word for it - but this appears to be the 
situation you are caught in.  If true, the only way out is to 
specifically "white-list", (tell either or AVAST or Defender) that 
GNUCash is OK.  Until this is done, you will be spinning your wheels in 
disbelief thinking it is you -- when it is the anti-virus software 
getting in your way.

Ken


------ Original Message ------
>From "barrym via gnucash-user" <gnucash-user at gnucash.org>
To gnucash-user at gnucash.org
Date 1/16/2026 5:54:13 AM
Subject Re: [GNC] Windows 11 security blocker

>Thanks again all, I believe my last message indicated that I have tried all the many repeated ideas suggested, I even said  that I had found a method of suspending Avast.
>
>Could I ask a  very simple question? What is the reason why GNUCash is not (now) 'approved' for downloading and installing on W11, it was for all the other versions I have had for years ??
>
>Is whitelisting something that I should be aware of, to download an accounting app?
>
>Barry
>
>On 14/01/2026 19:13, Adrien Monteleone wrote:
>>Excellent detailed instructions.
>>
>>I'll add that in addition to or instead of, the www.gnucash.org URL, you might need to specifically whitelist the SourceForge URL as that is where the download is coming from. (and/or the github URL)
>>
>>Regards,
>>Adrien
>>
>>On 1/14/26 10:32 AM, Ken Pyzik wrote:
>>>2.  If AVAST Web Shield is blocking the download, this could be another cause.  Add a temporary exception.  Open Avast.  Go to Menu → Settings → Exceptions. Add this URL:  Code  https://www.gnucash.org. Retry the download.   Once downloaded, you can remove the exception if you want to.
>>>   AVAST sometimes flags open‑source installers because they aren’t signed with expensive commercial certificates, not because they’re unsafe.
>>
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