KB0045 – Add-in installer / Microsoft Defender

Prerequisites :

1] You have downloaded the Promenta Add-in from the help.promenta.com website and not some third-party site. Promenta is not responsible for downloads from any other sites.

2] You have already performed a virus check on the downloaded file and found no issues

You are installing the Promenta Excel Add-in and are receiving an error message from Microsoft Defender similar to the one shown below

Background

This warning is generated by Microsoft defender when an application is executed that does not have enough “reputation”  or it is not digitally signed.

Assuming the file is digitally signed, this does not mean there is a problem with the file rather it means that the file is not “often downloaded” by many users.

Promenta is an SAP partner and our software is commonly downloaded centrally by IT teams and then distributed internally using software stores or install scripts.

This means that individual users do not download and install the software themselves often and hence the message is triggered

 

Resolution

Promenta cannot prevent Microsoft Defender issuing this message.

The following steps allow you to check that the software is legitimate and safe. 

When you are happy that the software is safe you can proceed to install by overriding or bypassing  the Defender message

Perform the following checks

1] Antivirus scan of the executable file

2] Check the digital signature 

Check the Digital Signature

The Promenta Excel Add-in is digitally signed by Promenta. This proves that the solution was created by us and has not been tampered with.

Promenta uses Sectigo – a third-party provider of code signing certificates used by some of the worlds biggest corporations. 

Signing Certificates: Code, Email & Document Security | Sectigo® Official

Steps 

1] Extract the zip file if the installer is still zipped

2] Right-click on the installed program name Promenta_Comb_<version>.exe  (for example Promenta_Comb_4.0.1.014.exe )

3] Select Properties and select the Digital Signature tab. Here you will see Promenta in the “Embedded signature” section

4] Select the signature and click on the details button

5] Click “View Certificate”

6] Review the certificate