Stop Chrome from blocking "insecure" ASNA EXE downlaods

All ASNA download exe files are signed, and have been for years, but a recent Google Chrome update, on some Windows PCs, now marks our exe downloads as insecure. Note that Microsoft Edge (as of build 131.0.2903.112), allows ASNA exe downloads with its strictest security settings.

There isn’t anything dangerous about our exe files; Chrome is erroneously reporting a false positive with its security test. Until we can convince Google otherwise, the workaround to download ASNA exe files with Google chrome is:

1. Click the link you were emailed to download the file.

The file may download successfully, but if it doesn’t, continue with:

2. After getting the message that the file was “dangerous” press Ctrl+J to shown Chrome’s download list. The exe you tried to download will be at the top of the list. Click the vertical ellipsis to the right of the file name.

Figure 1a. Opening Chrome's custom flag settings

3. Select “Download dangerous file” (again, this file isn’t dangerous).

Figure 1a. Opening Chrome's custom flag settings

4. Click the “Download dangerous file” button. The file will download to your PC. For your piece of mind, you can scan the downloaded file with your virus checker. This is very easy to do with Microsoft Defender; right-click the file and select “Scan with Microsoft Defender.”

Figure 1a. Opening Chrome's custom flag settings

Alternatively, use Microsoft Edge to download exe files from ANSA.com. Even with its security settings set to “strict” MS Edge successfully downloads the file. (MS Edge is installed by default on all Windows 10/11 PCs.)