The widely used BitTorrent client, uTorrent, is facing increased scrutiny as antivirus vendors, prominently including Microsoft's Windows Defender, identify it as potentially problematic software. The application, along with its rival qBittorrent, has been flagged as "riskware", "malware", or "Potentially Unwanted Software" (PUA), leading to their removal from systems.
Understanding the Concerns
Multiple security tools have raised alarms over uTorrent, citing issues from classifications such as "Trojan.BtcMine" to warnings about its bundled installer. Microsoft has weighed in, classifying uTorrent as a Potentially Unwanted Application. This classification puts it on a list of torrent clients that might be blocked. The designation of PUA often covers behaviors such as unauthorized changes to browser settings or the installation of third-party tools without explicit user permission.
For enterprise machines, Microsoft imposes particularly stringent criteria. Torrent applications like uTorrent are often detected as PUAs, which could lead to unpredictable removals and quarantines. However, even on consumer platforms, users have reported incidents where Windows Defender has silently removed or blocked these clients despite explicit permissions granted by the users.
Navigating the Challenges
The flagging of uTorrent as riskware impacts users who rely on these platforms for downloading and sharing files. Workarounds suggested by the community include adding explicit exclusions for uTorrent within Windows Defender, disabling Defender in favor of third-party antivirus solutions, or installing uTorrent while in Safe Mode. However, security experts caution that disregarding such warnings isn't advisable.
At the time of reporting, both uTorrent and qBittorrent teams had not provided any statements in response to queries. The implications for uTorrent users, who must now weigh security concerns against functional needs, underline the complexities inherent in deploying torrent softwares in a landscape increasingly governed by security protocols.
