“Windows protected your PC”

When you start the Snipette installer, Windows may show a blue warning. Here is why, and how to continue.

Why Windows warns

Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns about programs that are not yet known to Microsoft. A program becomes known through a paid code-signing certificate and through many people downloading it. Snipette is a free project and is not code-signed yet, so Windows cannot tell who published it. The warning does not mean that a virus was found.

How to run the installer

1. Open the downloaded Snipette-win-Setup.exe.
2. If Windows shows “Windows protected your PC”, click More info (the small link under the text).
3. Check that the publisher reads Unknown publisher and the app name is the file you downloaded.
4. Click Run anyway.

Windows usually remembers this decision, so the warning does not appear again for the same file.

If your browser warns too

• Microsoft Edge may say the file “isn’t commonly downloaded”. Open the downloads list, click … next to the file, choose Keep, then Show more and Keep anyway.
• Chrome or Firefox may ask whether to keep the file. Choose Keep.

“Smart App Control” on Windows 11

On some Windows 11 PCs, Smart App Control blocks unsigned programs completely and offers no “Run anyway”. In that case Snipette cannot be started from the direct download. Do not turn Smart App Control off just for Snipette; use the Microsoft Store version once it is available.

To check before you download: open Windows Security, then App & browser control, then Smart App Control. If it is On, Windows will block Snipette. If it is Evaluation or Off, the steps above work.

Is it safe?

• Download Snipette only from this website or from its GitHub releases.
• Snipette collects no data. Its only network access is the update check on GitHub (see privacy).
• You can scan the file with your antivirus or upload it to a multi-engine scanner such as VirusTotal before running it.