The problem with installing addons for Flight Simulator has always been for me about the security risk of giving addon developers full access to system files. Addon developers do not need the access.
With WASM being an enclosed restricted sandbox, addon developers have to learn to code their addons to meet the limitations of the allowable restrictions because system security is more important to Microsoft and Asobo then one or more complaining addon developers who can’t learn to code.
Installing Flight Simulator addons is safer for everyone on Xbox and PC. That’s how it should be.
That’s wrong! Addon developers do have access to system files. An installer downloaded from the addon developer is a security risk because they can access system files. Running addon developer programs on your machine is a security risk. Addon developer shouldn’t need the access.
Maybe its best just to switch your computer off. WASM does stop installers. Its a method to sandbox C++ calls, but its not really a security feature, more of an API.
I try to avoid installers tbh. I prefer extracting a zip file and copying it to the community folder.
Install a virtual instance of Windows that you can run in a sandboxed mode. Set up decoy folders that you can run the installer into. Run the installer, then transfer the extracted files back to your sim’s Community folder.
Like it or not, every time you connect to the outside world, there is a chance of getting malware, yet we leave our computers on and connected 24/7. Why? Because we trust our connection configurations to make our computers invisible behind our routers. We trust our anti-malware to catch bad files. We trust (foolishly?) that Microsoft has our best interest in mind when they push updates.
Also, if anything gets changed by an installer that shouldn’t be changed, there’s a pretty good chance you’re going to hear about it pretty quickly after the addon is released. Also, what do you think would happen to a publisher’s business if they did release something did something to users’ computers? Their business would tank in a matter of hours. Developers want your money, so they’re going to do all they can to ensure that all downloads are safe. As for freeware, I am usually a bit leery of installers. If it’s something I really want, I’ll download and then scan it with Defender - even though Defender already does that as it comes out of the internet cache. Then I’ll see if it can be opened with 7zip. Often times I’ll get something that comes in as an exe that I can actually open as an archive and pull out files manually. If I can’t do that, I’ll probably just delete the installer and skip the addon.
I consider my whole Gaming PC a “sandbox” , and assume that at some time or another, somehow, something will get in and cause an issue.
So rather spend masses amounts of time & effort in trying to protect it from the unknown, I back the whole thing up regularly as a drive image, and then if I should get infected, its just an easy restore.
This also protects it from ME, and bad edits etc… if I mess up, I can simple get the file back from last nights backup, or one further back.
I use Acronis Disk Image 2018 ( Not the later Bloated, slow offerings from Acronis)
Not that Acronis is better than any other, but it works for me, and its very easy to Browse the backup Image, and restore (or just copy) individual files or folders.
Its just “set it and forget it” and it backs up,every night while I sleep, and allows me to sleep well, knowing I am always fully backed up (well, my Gaming Computer is Fully Backed Up !! )
BTW; another great Utility Program, I end up using all the time is “Everything”
Its a very fast an powerful way to find any file or folder on your PC, and keep refining and changing that search with near instant results. (forget Explorer “search” !!)
Thanks for the tips !
I moved from Acronis to Macrium about a year ago. The 2020 and 2021 versions just kept getting to cumbersome. That 2018 version and the 2016 version is pretty rock solid. In any case, backups have saved my bacon more than several times. Have a great day and weekend!
Not to Hijack the thread, but backup is an imporant consideration.
I have been using Acronis for many year, the last version I purchased being True Image 2018. (5 license, unlimited, with non of this subscription rubbish).
I needed more license (more PCs !!), and since 5 license 2018 was not available (see why now), I got 2021 5 license, only to find out that it was bloated with stuff I did not need, and was so S L O W !!. (and obsolete ! )
With a lot of pressure and persuasion, I finally managed to get Acronis to Downgrade by license to 2018, so I am happy now. I do not believe that Macrium existed when I first started using Acronis, but hear very good reports about it.
A quick look through the payware available would seem to indicate that the developers who seem to care little for their own reputation, their product or the end user (and who would therefore have less to lose in the event of shipping malware with their products) are actually the ones who aren’t pushing the envelope in terms of functionality and working well within the WASM API. (Often simply reusing vanilla systems)
The developers who are pushing the envelope and need/want to extend the API or work outside it tend also to be the well established Dev’s with a brand and reputation that they have worked hard to build across multiple titles.
However, I’ve been modding games for a good long while now and rooting around in the darker parts of my system to get something to work how I want it is nothing new. I am probably less concerned about what a mod might mess up than I am about what I might.
