diff --git a/examples/feed-generator/generate.py b/examples/feed-generator/generate.py
index f217cb0..5a76af5 100755
--- a/examples/feed-generator/generate.py
+++ b/examples/feed-generator/generate.py
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python3
-# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
 
 import sys
 import json
 import os
 from pymisp import ExpandedPyMISP
-from settings import url, key, ssl, outputdir, filters, valid_attribute_distribution_levels, with_signatures
+from settings import url, key, ssl, outputdir, filters, valid_attribute_distribution_levels
 try:
     from settings import with_distribution
 except ImportError:
@@ -62,19 +61,21 @@ def saveEvent(event, misp):
         print(e)
         sys.exit('Could not create the event dump.')
 
+
 def getSignature(stringified_event, misp):
     try:
-        signature = misp.direct_call('/cryptographicKeys/serverSign', stringified_event)
+        signature = misp.sign_blob(stringified_event)
         return signature
     except Exception as e:
         print(e)
         sys.exit('Could not get the signature for the event from the MISP instance. Perhaps the user does not have the necessary permissions.')
 
+
 def saveHashes(hashes):
     try:
         with open(os.path.join(outputdir, 'hashes.csv'), 'w') as hashFile:
             for element in hashes:
-                hashFile.write('{},{}\n'.format(element[0], element[1]))
+                hashFile.write(f'{element[0]},{element[1]}\n')
     except Exception as e:
         print(e)
         sys.exit('Could not create the quick hash lookup file.')
diff --git a/pymisp/api.py b/pymisp/api.py
index 0230bf6..1d45090 100644
--- a/pymisp/api.py
+++ b/pymisp/api.py
@@ -3541,6 +3541,14 @@ class PyMISP:
             response = self._prepare_request('POST', url, data=to_post)
         return response
 
+    def sign_blob(self, blob: str) -> str:
+        """Sign a blob
+
+        :param blob: blob to sign
+        """
+        response = self._prepare_request('POST', '/cryptographicKeys/serverSign', data=blob)
+        return self._check_response(response, lenient_response_type=True)
+
     # ## END Others ###
 
     # ## BEGIN Statistics ###
diff --git a/pymisp/mispevent.py b/pymisp/mispevent.py
index 8ae7380..6796815 100644
--- a/pymisp/mispevent.py
+++ b/pymisp/mispevent.py
@@ -1602,6 +1602,8 @@ class MISPEvent(AnalystDataBehaviorMixin):
 
     def _set_default(self) -> None:
         """There are a few keys that could, or need to be set by default for the feed generator"""
+        if not hasattr(self, 'protected'):
+            self.protected = False
         if not hasattr(self, 'published'):
             self.published = True
         if not hasattr(self, 'uuid'):
@@ -1722,7 +1724,7 @@ class MISPEvent(AnalystDataBehaviorMixin):
                     event_report.pop('SharingGroup', None)
                     event_report.pop('sharing_group_id', None)
                 to_return['EventReport'].append(event_report.to_dict())
-        
+
         if with_cryptographic_keys and self.cryptographic_keys:
             to_return['CryptographicKey'] = []
             for cryptographic_key in self.cryptographic_keys:
@@ -1765,7 +1767,7 @@ class MISPEvent(AnalystDataBehaviorMixin):
     @property
     def event_reports(self) -> list[MISPEventReport]:
         return self.EventReport
-    
+
     @property
     def cryptographic_keys(self) -> list[MISPCryptographicKey]:
         return self.CryptographicKey
@@ -2250,12 +2252,14 @@ class MISPWarninglist(AbstractMISP):
             kwargs = kwargs['Warninglist']
         super().from_dict(**kwargs)
 
+
 class MISPCryptographicKey(AbstractMISP):
-    def from_dict(self, **kwargs) -> None: # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
+    def from_dict(self, **kwargs) -> None:  # type: ignore[no-untyped-def]
         if 'CryptographicKey' in kwargs:
             kwargs = kwargs['CryptographicKey']
         super().from_dict(**kwargs)
 
+
 class MISPTaxonomy(AbstractMISP):
 
     enabled: bool