Digital Watchdog Installer Microsoft Defender SmartScreen Warning

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Affected DW Products: DW Spectrum Professional (Server and Client), DW Ai Server, C3 CMS, DW IP Finder

Release Date: July 15, 2026

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Microsoft Defender SmartScreen

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen helps to protect users from downloading and running potentially unsafe applications by displaying a warning when a file that has not been signed by a trusted publisher or has a reputation for being malicious is run.

Prior to the release of DW Spectrum 6.1.2.43047, Microsoft changed how their reputation system works. A signed certificate from a trusted publisher no longer guarantees that the SmartScreen warning will not appear; reputation must be built by users downloading and running the signed application with no signs of malicious behavior. Microsoft does not make public how long or how many downloads or users it takes for an adequate amount of reputation to build before the SmartScreen warnings will no longer appear. All future Digital Watchdog software products that are installed on Windows are subject to these SmartScreen warnings.

These warnings do not mean that there is a problem with the application - the certificate is invalid, the signature is untrusted, or the application is malicious. All versions of DW Spectrum downloaded from Digital Watchdog sources are digitally signed and safe to run and install.

Recommended Actions

In the event that a SmartScreen warning appears, do not be alarmed. As long as the Digital Watchdog Windows installer application was downloaded from Digital Watchdog or through the DW Spectrum client, it is a safe and legitimate file.
smartscreen 1.PNG

Click the More info link to reveal information about the application and publisher.

smartscreen 2.PNG

Click Run anyway to run the installer application as normal.

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For More Information or Technical Support

DW Technical Support: https://www.digital-watchdog.com/contact-tech-support/

DW Sales: sales@digital-watchdog.com | www.digital-watchdog.com