I’ve played quite a few games on itch.io, but this is the first time Windows has flagged one. It happened on Windows 11, and on Windows 10 too. I didn't dare launch it. What do you think?
This:
https://kyra169090.itch.io/deathdream
👽
I’ve played quite a few games on itch.io, but this is the first time Windows has flagged one. It happened on Windows 11, and on Windows 10 too. I didn't dare launch it. What do you think?
This:
https://kyra169090.itch.io/deathdream
It looks like a false positive.
From what I can see, it’s built with Python and likely uses PyInstaller, which is frequently flagged as a virus by mistake.
I uploaded it to Jotti, and here are the results:
https://virusscan.jotti.org/en-US/filescanjob/n3at2zot0z
However, three of the detections are for "Gen:Variant.Yogi.31291"—which is typically a false positive associated with PyInstaller—and two of the remaining three simply flag it as "suspicious." So, it is most likely a false positive.
Still, it’s always best to be cautious; if you have any doubts, it’s better not to run it, or to run it via the Itch app, which includes a sandbox mode that offers a bit of extra protection when playing games.
Yeah, it is my game, and it was never flagged as a virus before, only now, it is so annoying, I definitely did not write a virus. I actually made it with Python/PyGame, I even published the source code on GitHub:
https://github.com/kyra169090/deathdream_pygame
I don't even have the time lately to fix this, but I will do it sometime. Maybe I will make it rather a browser based game so no one has to download anything.
Exactly, and actually I am grateful that you people here noticed this problem with my game! :) I would not even know about it, like when I tested it months ago the last time, it was fine. My only annoyment is Windows here, maybe there was a Windows update that generated false positive warning lately?
The problem is that many detection methods rely on heuristics that don't actually determine whether a program is dangerous; instead, they flag patterns common to many viruses while overlooking the fact that legitimate software uses those same patterns.
As I understand it, PyInstaller runs a loading routine to execute the Python code—a process that appears suspicious to various antivirus programs—and rather than verifying whether it is actually a virus, they simply raise an alarm.
The standard procedure is to report the false positive to the companies responsible for the detection (likely Microsoft in this case). They usually conduct a more detailed review, and once they confirm it is a false positive, they add it to a whitelist so that future updates won't flag it as a virus.
Thanks! :) I actually submitted the EXE to Microsoft as a false positive, 22 days ago just like you recommended and then I waited. Unfortunately, they replied that they consider it malware and will keep the detection, without really explaining anything. I waited enough for them and made the game browser-based instead XD at least users can play it now, but I would have been more happy if Microsoft "unflags" my game EXE
I am dead tired, made the game browser-based in the end, because Microsoft did not really deal with my problem in time (I wrote about this to user hechelion above)
So here is the result:
https://kyra169090.itch.io/deathdream
If someone has the same problem (Python game flagged as virus), try this (upload the EXE only, not the .zip):
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/filesubmission
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-xdr/submission-guide