Just adding two more cents to the conversation...
 
At first I didn't think McAfee could be the problem in my case, because I don't run McAfee.  BUT... on thinking about it, this happened on a new laptop where McAfee was the default AV, which I uninstalled after setting up the computer.  So it's very likely that something was left behind that affected SONAR when I installed it.  So  the McAfee connection seems strong.

Nevertheless, my previous post on how it got fixed is interesting as well.
(http://forum.cakewalk.com/FindPost/3677382)

I don't have McAfee but encountered this problem with Sony Vegas and Windows 10.
 
Also at the moment. I can't install any updates. I get the "Your device is at risk because it’s out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let’s get you back on track so Windows can run more securely. Select this button to get going." Clicking the button just brings up the same warning.

Sounds like maybe it's not McAfee directly, but perhaps some overzealous Windows security feature that's getting in its way.
 
Either way, exempting the \program files\cakewalk directory tree is the best preventative - at least, until the bug bites some other application on your computer.

I am too experiencing the same issues on my daw and my new laptop with a very recent install-both using macaffe- security suite.
I just excluded the dll's from being scanned and have also made a sonar backup folder.
I will post anything I find

Anderton
I don't have McAfee but encountered this problem with Sony Vegas and Windows 10.
 
Also at the moment. I can't install any updates. I get the "Your device is at risk because it’s out of date and missing important security and quality updates. Let’s get you back on track so Windows can run more securely. Select this button to get going." Clicking the button just brings up the same warning.

anything in the event log?

@ whoever turned me on to this thread, thank you. while reading through the posts i see a couple common things. my biggest problem is, i don't know how a computer works so when you guys start talking about DLL's and things like that i'm lost. however, one thing i noticed is there could be a problem with Mcafee. i remember when i first started using a DAW (cakewalk guitar pro running millennium) i had to manually (ctl-alt-del) shut down background programs and never, ever run AV because GTP would crash. however, by habit, i always disable AV while running Sonar.
that being said, i still have no idea how to fix this and it's becoming quite annoying. 

Thanks to all who have taken the time to post, but very few have posted the information I was seeking to help narrow down the heart of the issue. OK, it's mostly people with McAfee. But then there's me who doesn't have McAfee and still had the problem. 
 
So please everyone all we need is a simple list. 
 
Version of Windows - ( 1703 1709 etc)  IMPORTANT 
Version of Sonar  probably doesn't matter. 
What the message said  
When does it happen
What anti virus are you running   IMPORTANT

Cactus Music
Version of Windows - ( 1703 1709 etc)  IMPORTANT 
Version of Sonar  probably doesn't matter. 
What the message said  
When does it happen
And yes are you using McAfee
(Better question)
What antivirus software are you using?

This could be affecting other A/V software, not just McAfee.