New version 2017.11.4

[jch2103]

I think this [issues with 2017.11.2 being flagged by security software] all may be caused because I'm using my new certificate now. The old one expires tomorrow and so I had to renew. And this makes this a new certificate and Google/Microsoft go all bonkers about this. Sigh. If this is the reason this should settle once my certificate is in use for a couple of weeks.

I 've paid for 4 years up-front (because it is such a hassle to get a renewed certificate if you are not a company with a legal department) so I'm good till end of 2021. And then something totally different may be in place...

I was just able to install 2017.11.4 without any issues, so I suspect the issue with 2017.11.2 was indeed the fact that your certificate was so new.

[Jingo]

Hi Mario - no biggie but thought I would share - the announcement message has release notes links for the last major version (2017.11.2).. the correct links for this release should be:

https://www.photools.com/release-notes/?productId=233
https://www.photools.com/release-notes/?productId=234

Enjoy the day! - Andy.

[Mario]

Thanks. But 240 and 242 are the correct ones. I've already updated the post.

Although I'm quite sure all users are able to figure out how to find the current release notes by themselves.
And that all users read the release notes.

[hro]

Latest version downloaded and installed again without any problem.
The Windows and Chrome warning messages all disappeared.
Thanks Mario.

[Mario]

The Windows and Chrome warning messages all disappeared.

And it is everyone's guess why... ?
Does this only affect you because you did download the file already?
Has the new version been downloaded a sufficient number of times in the mean time?
Is my new certificate old enough to not trigger the message anymore...?

I don't know.
Looking at new browser releases and all the 'security features' they include I sometimes get the impression that users are 'put under tutelage' and we cannot decide ourselves anymore...same for Android/iOS...the big US companies decide what is appropriate and all else is forbidden.

We lose control over our own hardware (which we paid for and which we are supposed to own) and doing a decent thing like installing a clean and 'non-monitoring' operating system like LineageOS which does not tell Google/Apple about everything we do breaks the 'warranty'...

Thankfully Microsoft was unable to establish their 'store' as the only source for Windows software.

[hro]

I don't really have an answer.
I hear your pain Mario, and from a (small) developer point of view it must be difficult and costly to satisfy the big gun's requirements. On the other side, I certainly see the number of hacks, phishing attacks, malicious software, etc. on the rise.
This is what we've got ourselves into with ever increasing technology penetrating our lives. I know I am getting philosophical 

[jch2103]

And it is everyone's guess why... ?

My uneducated guess is that it was the new certificate, based on lack of such issues for many months combined with the timing of the certificate change. I would imagine that all new certificates get extra scrutiny due to increased possibility they're being used for nefarious purposes. Presumably that's not just being optimistic, although all the other potential causes you cited could be it too.

I sympathize with your other, broader concerns.

[Carlo Didier]

And that all users read the release notes.

[jeknepley]

Installed without issues. Pleasant contrast to 11.2 where I got download "warnings" and then, after downloading, IM wouldn't install on one PC (of two) because it hung up on the computing space step - required disabling my anti-virus before it would install. Never let your computer know you're in a hurry.