I just compiled the source code from the GitHub repo, and the resulting Windows NSIS installer produces a similar VirusTotal report.
Given that the source code looks clean (as far as I can tell), I'd lean towards this being a false positive.
Nothing is certain in life, but VirusTotal is notorious for producing false positives when it comes to crypto software. I'd suggest also compiling from source to see if you get a similar report.
Yes it does but the attempts to spread malware through the forum are quite rampant which is why these folks are doing a good job to clean the forum off malware. False positives can be contested as the reports can never be 100% accurate but most of them at least are. I think I have seen it happen before, but the member hasn't bothered to come around and appeal.
Yeah, of course, I'd say it's better to have false positives rather than false negatives, given how many people just download and run stuff without a second thought. I'm also grateful for the screening these guys do!
I'll see if I can get a hold of the BitcoinIII dev about this malware report (assuming it's a false positive). I used to be in the Discord group, and he mentioned being banned from here but not knowing why. Anything I should mention to him regarding defending his case or appealing?