I downloaded the EXE. It downloaded just fine. I stepped away from my PC for a bit. When I came back... It was gone. Not moved, deleted, or quarantined, it just doesn't show as existing anywhere on my PC. Now I'm running all the virus/rootkit scans. Joy.
the built in Windows defender will just delete any exe file you download, if you have any other antivirus, you are wasting money, but they will do the same thing, this is a user issue on your part, not an issue of the developer, itch is not a sketchy site, and complaining to the dev who made the game about your lack of understand of how protection software works does nothing.
TLDR: you have a skill issue