Compiled C executable is detected as a virus by windows defender

Question

I had compiled a simple hello world program in C with the MinGW compiler using the command line. As it had finished compiling, windows defender popped up and detected a virus (Trojan:Win32/Fuery.C!cl).

#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>
int main() {
    printf("Hello World");
    return 0;
}

https://imgur.com/a/05yDjw5

I had taken action on this (Removed) as windows defender suggested, but when I compile again the same happened, multiple times.

I had downloaded an AntiVirus (Malwarebytes) and scanned my whole system and it detected some registry key errors, but not this.

I've tried compiling C++ files too, but windows defender did not detect any virus there. This only happens when I compile in C.

I've also tried checking the compiled executable at VirusTotal. https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/476d47215dad80db49c9fd508ab5e10e5aeb5b623248ca156830a28b70affe5f/detection

I tried CodeBlock's MinGW compiler and 0 engines detected it. (Same C file) https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/8ba4b0fa24b1b6b69152acce2353fcca8447bbecbfc4e5ec48d33cc75d94f2f1/detection

EDIT: I deleted the path variable of C:/MinGW and added CodeBlock's MinGW compiler. I then used the command line to compile the same C file again and had uploaded the .exe file to VirusTotal. This time, 0 engines detected. So I have come to the conclusion that, the MinGW compiler that I had installed was creating this problem. https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/34d383f6c09f897d8c9a44ed0e7850574320e50fdf439eeb1f06705fdcc95386/detection

I don't know why this happens. Is there a malware in my computer that affects my C programs or is this a false detection?

Answer 1

There is no malware, it is a false positive. The executable generated by your version of MinGW looks very similar to a particular virus.

To avoid the problem, add the directory where you build your code to the list of exclusion in the antivirus.

Also consider using mingw-w64 instead of mingw.org .