Security software and exclusions

Why security software warns

The installers (MSI, DMG, AppImage) are not signed, see the code signing policy. Unsigned programs stand out in the behavior analysis of some security programs, for example Windows Defender/SmartScreen, Kaspersky or Avast.

The package was checked at Kaspersky: it came back clean in the analysis (OpenTIP), and the analyst could not reproduce the detection. The warnings come from the local behavior analysis.

Still verify your download with the checksum. The instructions (certutil on Windows, shasum on macOS and Linux, comparison with SHA256SUMS.txt) are in the code signing policy.

Adding folder exclusions (Windows)

If a security program blocks the app or the installer, you can add these folders as an exclusion:

• C:\Program Files\3MF Katalog Manager\ (program folder)
• %APPDATA%\com.thebexxs.mfkatalogmanager (Roaming, data folder with catalog.db)
• %LOCALAPPDATA%\com.thebexxs.mfkatalogmanager (Local)

For the preview version, add the folders ending in .preview, in both Roaming and Local (%APPDATA%\com.thebexxs.mfkatalogmanager.preview and %LOCALAPPDATA%\com.thebexxs.mfkatalogmanager.preview).

Only if problems occur

Add exclusions only if problems occur, only for these folders, and only after checking the checksum. Never for whole drives or system folders.

Windows Defender

1. Open Windows Security.
2. Choose Virus & threat protection → Virus & threat protection settings.
3. Choose Add or remove exclusions → Add an exclusion → Folder.
4. Select the folder.

Other vendors

The name (exceptions, trusted programs, exclusions) differs by vendor; see the program’s help.

The app does not start: file missing despite an exclusion

If Windows reports at startup that a program file is missing (for example TKTopAlgo.dll was not found), a security program has probably removed it or moved it to quarantine. For one user, an exclusion for the program folder was not enough. What to do:

1. Open the security program’s quarantine and restore the file.
2. Add the file individually as an exclusion as well (for example C:\Program Files\3MF Katalog Manager\TKTopAlgo.dll), not only the folder.
3. If that does not help, reinstall the app. Your catalog is kept.

The same file also ships with other software (for example slicers and CAD programs). It is a bundled program library (Open CASCADE), not malware.

Message about a Windows Installer rollback file

The message C:\Windows\Installer\Config.Msi\*.rbf refers to a rollback file of the Windows Installer, not a file of the app. It gets a new, random name with every installation. An exclusion for a single file name therefore only lasts until the next installation.

No exclusion for C:\Windows\Installer

We do not recommend a permanent exclusion for the Windows Installer folder (C:\Windows\Installer). It switches off protection for all installations.

Instead:

• Restart the installation if needed.
• If the checksum matches, treat the message as a false alarm.
• Restore a file from quarantine only if you can clearly attribute it to your own installation.

macOS and Linux

On macOS, Gatekeeper warns on first launch; the way around it (right-click → Open) is described in Installation. The notes on antivirus programs there apply here too: Why does my antivirus show a warning?