How to bypass the Windows Defender false alarm

In this article, you will learn how to bypass the Windows Defender false alarm and resolve any issues with the Surfshark app caused by it.

Before attempting the steps below, we highly recommend trying to update the Surfshark application, as this can easily fix the Windows Defender issue.

• Windows 10
• Windows 11

Windows 10

1. Press the Windows Key on your keyboard and click on Settings.
   
   
2. Select Update & Security, then Windows Security, and lastly - Virus & threat protection.
   
   
   
3. Now, under Virus & threat protection updates, click Check for updates.
   
   
   
4. You may be asked to click Check for updates once more. If so, please click it.
   
   
   

If this solution does not help, there is one more thing you can try. That would be to add the Surfshark application to the exception list of Windows Defender.

1. On the Virus & threat protection page, click on Manage Settings instead of Check for updates.
   
   
   
2. At the bottom of the page, click on Add or remove exclusions.
   
   
   
   
3. Finally, click on Add exclusion, and select the Surfshark folder. The default directory for your Surfshark folder is:
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Surfshark
   
   
   

Windows 11

1. Right-click the Start button, and click on Settings.
   
   
   
2. Click on System.
   
   
   
   
3. Then click Troubleshoot.
   
   
   
   
4. Click on Other troubleshooters.
   
   
   
   
5. Lastly, click on Run next to Windows Update.
   
   
   

If this solution does not help, there is one more thing you can try. That would be to add the Surfshark application into the exception list of Windows Defender.

1. Press the Start button, and go to Settings.
   
   
   
   

2. Under Privacy & Security, select Virus & threat protection.
   

3. Under Virus & threat protection settings, select Manage settings.
   
   
   
   
4. Under the Exclusions tab, select Add or remove exclusions.
   
   
   
   
5. Select Add an exclusion, and then select the Surfshark folder. The default directory for the Surfshark folder is:
   C:\Program Files (x86)\Surfshark
   
   
   
   Alternatively, you can add the SurfsharkSetup.exe file as an exclusion if your Surfshark folder files are corrupted, and you need to reinstall the whole application.

Congratulations! Now you know how to bypass the Windows Defender false alarm on your device!

You may also be interested in:

1. How to use the Surfshark Antivirus on Windows?
2. How to use the Surfshark Antivirus on Android?
3. How to set up a VPN-protected Wi-Fi hotspot using Windows?