Notepad++ is Windows-based and could use the Windows store instead of the built in updater. Microsoft charges a one time fee. It would pass SmartScreen checks. His website has a bunch of ads integrated which I assume are there to help pay for hosting.

Mr. Ho already has hosting charges and he uses GitHub. For those who use GitHub, he could continue his GnuPG method for signing. Additionally, GitHub integrates with Sigstore. Windows wouldn’t trust his signature but at least there would be better traceability. Version 8.8.7 labeled “authenticity guaranteed” is a step in that direction.

The real “issue” here was his outside hosting platform for updates from my reading of the article.