windows defender just marked surfshark as malware

Hi madmac10

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

SurfShark, if downloaded form the official website is not malware, that is probably a false positive.

If you did download SurfShark form the official website, then you can add an exception to the Surfshark folder in Defender, that will stop it scanning that folder.

The BEST Solution to cure this problem;

1- Temporarily Suspend Defender:

Select Start  > then open Settings!

2- Under Privacy & security; select Virus & threat protection!

Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings, and then under Exclusions select Add or remove exclusions!

3- Select Add an exclusion, and then Select; Surfshark Folder from files, folders, file types, or process. 

A folder exclusion will apply to all subfolders within the Surfshark folder as well.

When you put the Surfshark installation folder in there!

No more False Positives on Surfshark and you can Turn Defender back on!

We are aware that Surfshark app was flagged as 'Misleading:Win32/Lodi' by Windows Defender.

We have informed Microsoft Anti-Malware team that it was false identification and it has been resolved.

If you still experience this issue please manually trigger the update by selecting Check for updates in the Windows Security Virus & threat protection  screen as described in https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/wdsi/defenderupdates

Surfshark will continue working with Microsoft and other Anti-malware vendors to improve their processes and avoid false detections in the future.

Surfshark team

I only download the apps from within Surfshark login itself. The problem is huge and has Surfshark Support working over time to fix it. All because they are putting out better Antiviral competition to Defender.

I had to spend hours w/ support to get the Surfshark App going again on one PC. Just because MS Defender does not tell you what or why they're telling you to delete *lodi*. So I just let it delete it!

Is this a left over tactic from Bill Gates "Embrace Extend Extinguish" tactics? I don't know, but it sure seems like it! ...I don't have such problems on my Linux or Apple Mac installs!

And recently after being an early Windows 11 user, I'm now being forced to take that back to Windows 10 again on that machine! Oh and it works on my Android phone & Chrome Browser Extension w/o problems as well!

BTW; It is working again w/ it being moved to exceptions & that's all I care about on this Windows 10 install now!

A quick replay;

1. Surfshark has an "Antivirus Program" that they are incorporating into Surfshark. In other words Defender is seeing Surfshark as if it's looking in a mirror. Since we should never run two Antivirus Programs simultaneously you have to make a choice;

a. Keep the VPN combo w/ Antivirus Protection and disable Defender!

b. Drop your Surfshark VPN service you paid for and just use Defender!

c. Simply add Surfshark as an Exception to Defender as @DaveM121 suggest above.

But be sure and not let Defender delete "Lodi" it claims is infected. Why? Because while Surfshark is integrating it's Antivirus into Surfshark you'll see this Defender Popup until it's fully integrated w/ a Live running it's Antivirus program you get for free w/ Surfshark VPN Service!

Also be sure to temporarily disable Defender to avoid getting it deleted until you have it safely set as an EXCEPTION! ....then you'll need to disable Defender Antivirus completely (keep firewall) as they'll fight each other when fully integrated!

BTW; MS has admitted Defender was Hacked. Not for data but for a sneaky way of getting people to deactivate and delete their VPN Service. So the Hackers have free reign of your personal data information... to TRACK YOU!