Security Question

[Mirelly]

Because MATY has a high ratio of technically adept people I ask this in all seriousness as one who knows little.

Is there a credible possibility that malicious code--wrapped in a .package file--could be spread by unwitting Sims players using the exchange community? I am referring, specifically, to the criminally malicious viruses like keystroke loggers, emailers and data destroyers.

One reason for my concern is that new utilities (like QXpress at MTS2) are appearing that streamline the downloading process and too much streamlining can result in little or no opportunity, even for a semi-savvy twit like yours truly, to consider performing a virus scan on the damned stuff before it is decompressed and buried in a gigabytes wide folder.

Should we be warning that all packages and sims2packs are virus-scanned before installing?

[webwench]

I always virus-scan them as a precaution - A trojan got ahold of me earlier in this year, so I went on super-paranoia mode.  Conceivably, if someone is using coding to effect the game, it logically follows that it's theoretically possible for someone to write in a worm code or some such.

Just be careful

[J. M. Pescado]

Yes, it is distinctly possible to create a virus-infested Sims2Pack. There are plenty of virii which can take effect simply if they get on your computer, and if such a thing is bundled into a sims2pack, it could potentially get onto the exchange and spread.

It is also entirely possible for sims2 code to be malicious in nature. In fact, I pondered this possibility awhile back, and decided that it is, in fact, possible to bundle a malicious hack into the game that will activate at some random trigger point, and perform malicious activity ranging from turning your game into a BFBVFS to crashing it. Or both. So yes, it is entirely possible for malicious code to be bundled into Sims2packs.