Malware

Installation & Malware Detection

Users occasionally report that their anti-virus software detects a problem with the OnlyV software (or more often the installation application). Please note that there has never been a valid virus or malware detection with any OnlyV distribution since initial release. Modern anti-virus tools are prone to erroneous detection, called 'false positives', which is where OnlyV - and many other applications from small vendors - trip up.

The reported detections in OnlyV software are all 'generic' (they often include the word "Generic" or "GEN" in their title). This indicates that the anti-virus software did not find a virus or malware, but simply found code that might typically be used by a malware writer - it employed a heuristic to guess that malware could be present; malware that has yet to be discovered and catalogued!

Speculative inspection like this poses a real impediment to running powerful tools from indie developers. The large software companies don't suffer from false positives because popular software titles are whitelisted.

Smaller software suppliers are left having to chase multiple anti-virus companies to register 'false positives' or attempt to join several official programmes to gain approval. One of the difficulties I have is that I frequently update the OnlyV software as part of a deliberate policy of 'agile' development. This means that even if I manage to register a false positive for one version, that listing is redundant within a few weeks when I upload a new installer which is naturally treated by the anti-virus programs as a different proposition.

Virustotal.com is a useful online diagnostic tool that should provide some reassurance when using niche-market software. Please feel free to submit the OnlyV installer to your AV supplier stating that you suspect a false positive.