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Windows SmartScreen / Defender says "unknown publisher" or deletes the installer

Why does this happen?

SuperSQE is a self-contained installer — it bundles its own Node.js runtime, PostgreSQL database, Playwright browsers and the runner agents into a single file. That is exactly what legitimate products do, but it also matches the pattern of "installer bundlers", so Microsoft's cloud reputation engine occasionally flags the unsigned installer as Program:Win32/Contebrew.A!ml.

This is a false positive. The installer is the official SuperSQE distribution: every download ships with its SHA256 checksum, published on the Downloads page, and the checksum matches the file exactly.

The definitive fix is a code-signing certificate (which gives the installer reputation with Windows). Until SuperSQE signs its installers, the workarounds below let you install safely.

Option 1 — SmartScreen "More info → Run anyway"

  1. Right-click the downloaded supersqe-setup-*.exeProperties.
  2. If you see Unblock at the bottom, tick it and click OK.
  3. Run the installer. When the blue SmartScreen screen appears, click More infoRun anyway.
  4. Verify the SHA256 checksum first (see Option 4) — then it's safe to run.

Option 2 — Restore a deleted file

  1. Open Windows SecurityVirus & threat protectionProtection history.
  2. Find the SuperSQE entry → expand it → ActionsRestore.
  3. Right-click the restored file → Properties → Unblock → run it.

Option 3 — Verify the checksum before running

Open PowerShell in the download folder and run:

Get-FileHash .\supersqe-setup-1.0.2-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256

Compare the output with the SHA256 shown on the Downloads page. If they match, the file is the official, untampered installer.

Option 4 — Report the false positive to Microsoft

Help us clear the detection for everyone:

  1. Go to Microsoft Defender Security Intelligence submission.
  2. Sign in, upload supersqe-setup-1.0.2-x64.exe and select "This file is incorrectly detected".
  3. Microsoft typically whitelists the file within a few days.

Signed installers are coming

SuperSQE is adding a code-signing certificate to its release pipeline. Signed installers are trusted by Windows automatically.

Checksums are published

Every release publishes its SHA256 checksum on the Downloads page. Verify before you run — a mismatch means the file was tampered with.

Never disable Windows Security globally. Only unblock the specific installer after verifying its checksum.