Antivirus detects python.exe as idp.generic?

Question

I am starting to learn python. Installed python 2.7 and Pycharm. When I opened the python console in Pycharm, my antivirus warned me that python.exe in path venv\Scripts was infected by IDP.Generic . Has anyone experienced this problem before? Is this a false positive case? I'm worried if it is really a malware in my pc...

Answer 1

IDP generic means

the detection was detected by a Identity Protection detection component and it is a generalized file that got detected.

Practically means that the program behaved in a way that is close to what a malware does. This could be a false positive. I suggest doing the following :

1. update the signatures since a false alarm could be raised due to an outdated database.
2. Submit your python.exe to https://www.virustotal.com/#/home/upload to see what it does report.

In my opinion, it is a false positive.

Hope it helps

Answer 2

Not knowing which Anti-Virus program you use... see this link.

We request you to disable AVG Protection temporarily by following the instructions as mentioned in this article: http://avgread.me/1GnMD3N and then reinstall the Python application. Once done with that please enable AVG Protection and add the installed path of Python application to AVG's exception.

Python is no malware, however, I also don't know where you downloaded your python distribution. Feel free to download it from the official repositories for windows.