SOLVED! Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark

Regarding privacy on the Internet, many users make extensive use of VPN (Virtual Private Network). At the moment, a lot of VPN services exist but in terms of utility, few could outperform Surfshark. Dependable and reliable, Surfshark gives a good account of itself in quite a few settings. That being said, complaints about Surfshark still surface from time to time and many focus on the same issue: “Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark”.

The Root Of The Problem

For your information, Windows Defender flags apps as “misleading” when it believes that they don’t do what they claim. Under normal circumstances, the misleading label usually indicates malware that makes false claims regarding their functions. However, like its contemporaries, Windows Defender may overreact at times and classify normal apps as malicious. In the case of “Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark”, there is a good chance Windows Defender is overreacting.

Surfshark official site has stated that an old version of Surfshark VPN was falsely flagged as malware by Windows Defender. Though the issue was supposed to be resolved a long time ago, it’s not uncommon to see reports about “Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark” nowadays.

What You Could Do

Uninstall And Reinstall Surfshark

In the beginning, since Surfshark has resolved the problem with an update, it is wise to update your Surfshark to the latest version. Normally, all you need to do is open the app and click the Update button. However, Windows Defender flagging it as malware likely means the Surfshark has been quarantined. In that case, it’s a good idea to uninstall and reinstall Surfshark.

• Step 1. Type Control Panel into the Search bar then press Enter.
• Step 2. Go to Programs > Programs and Features.
• Step 3. Look for Surfshark VPN, right-click it and choose Uninstall.
• Step 4. Work through the steps in the Uninstaller and wait for it to finish.
• Step 5. Download Surfshark VPN and save it on your PC.
• Step 6. Temporarily disable your antivirus for good measure.
• Step 7. Run the Surfshark VPN setup and install the program.

Assuming that things proceed smoothly, your PC should now have the latest version of Surfshark VPN. Open the program and determine whether the issue persists.

Make Exception For Surfshark

Since we know the Misleading:Win32/Lodi malware notice for Surfshark is a false positive, it is safe to make an exception in Windows Defender. When this action is performed, Windows Defender will ignore Surfshark VPN entirely, thereby eliminating the problem. Any process related to the Surfshark VPN folder will also not be scanned, so make sure they are trustworthy before committing to this method.

For Windows 10

• Step 1. Click the Windows Security icon on your taskbar. (The white shield with a cross)
• Step 2. On the next window, go to “Virus & threat protection” section.
• Step 3. Click “Manage settings” below “Virus & threat protection settings”.
• Step 4. Locate the Exclusion section near the bottom and click “Add or remove exclusions”.
• Step 5. Now click the “Add an exclusion” button and choose the Surfshark folder. The default installation directory is C:\Program Files (x86)\Surfshark.

For Windows 11

• Step 1. Click the Start button and go to Settings.
• Step 2. From there, go to Privacy & Security > Virus & threat protection.
• Step 3. Click “Manage settings” below “Virus & threat protection settings”.
• Step 4. Under Exclusion section, click “Add or remove exclusions.
• Step 5. Click the “Add and exclusion” button and select your Surfshark folder.

Run Windows Update Troubleshooter

While it sounds strange, Windows 11 users can run the Windows Update Troubleshooter to solve the problem. This may remove the Windows Defender’s false positive notification entirely.

• Step 1. Click the Start button and go to Settings.
• Step 2. Go to System > Troubleshoot > Other troubleshooters.
• Step 3. In this menu, find Windows Update and click the Run button to the right.
• Step 4. Wait for the process to complete and see how things turn out.

Can I Ignore “Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark“?

Since “Misleading:Win32/Lodi Surfshark” is often the result of an overaction of Windows Defender, there’s no need to worry. If you don’t plan to use Surfshark, you could carry on using your PC like usual.

Is Surfshark Free?

Though it has free trial policies, Surfshark is not free. Similar to many VPN services out there, you need to pay to make full use of Surfshark . If you are using Android, iOS or MacOS, you can try out the service for 7 days at no cost. For other platforms, there is a 30-day money-back policy which means you can choose to cancel the subscription within the first 30 days and get a refund.

How Do I Use A VPN?

• Step 1. Get a VPN Service subscription. If you are using a free VPN, skip this step.
• Step 2. Download the software of said service provider on their homepage.
• Step 3. Install the VPN program.
• Step 4. Open the program and log in using your credentials if required.
• Step 5. Click the Connect button and it’ll automatically connect you to the server with the least physical distance and the most speed. If you wish to connect to a specific region, choose that region from the list before clicking Connect.