Are Mod Downloads Safe? Precautions?

[groomsie]

Just a question on the safety of MOD downloads? Are they generally safe? Any special precautions I should follow with them?

Seems most everyone downloads them and a search seems to reveal no issues with malicious bugs or software piggy-backing. Maybe I'm just being overly cautious...

Advice?

[Takeda Shingen]

I cannot speak for the world of modding, but any mod or mod maker affiliated with SubSim.com is above board; you would have nothing to fear.

[wetwarev7]

Most mods don't come with executables, so if you see one the mod you just downloaded, you might want to run a scan on it or see if the readme file lists it as a legit file.

I've never had a problem with any of the mods I've downloaded from here.

[Fish40]

Never, ever had a problem of that sort here:nope:

[groomsie]

Not trying to give the wrong impression, my gut feeling is everyone is doing the mods for love of the game so to speak. But the file hosting sites I guess I was unsure of.

It came up in my mind since I downloaded my first few mods and ran them fine, then downloaded TMO (but haven't extracted yet). First system start after download of TMO I get the "blue screen of death" and can't seem to get the system stabilized long enough to T/S the computer, let alone play SH4. So, I'm thinking of everything that happened just before that event in order to try to find the source of the problem.

I wondered if anything ever "piggy-backs" on a mod download...

[gimpy117]

never get anythign off of limewire...even if it says it's a legit mod
I know first hand...

go to an official site of a modder usally on filefront etc....

also, avast antivirus software is free for home use and very good, It's caught pretty much anything I've encountered online and it does it realtime so if a site attempts to download a virus it stops it right away.

[vanjast]

Most mods are in a ZIP or RAR file, with instructions where to place the mod file.
the mod files are usually in the format.. gamefolder\data\... and use the JSGME mod enabler to install them.

You'd usually extract the mod file to the gamefolder\MOD\... folder and the JSGME executable (virus free - check this though) will install it into you game files from this MOD folder.
The JSGME executable is placed in your SH4 gamefolder.

I'd would not touch any mods that install with a *.exe file.

Make sure your mod versions match the SH4 version, as there is SH4 v1.4 and its mods, but the latest is SH4 v1.5 and all mods now are geared for this version.
There are incompatibilities with SH4-vs-Mod mismatches that can cause the 'death screen'. This can also occur if you graphics card does not have enough memory/VRam, as TMO is graphics intensive.
Maybe you should try TMO-Lite ( I think this exists)
:)

[AVGWarhawk]

1000's of mods from this site downloaded without issue and counting:up: Also, I believe you can have your AV scan the file before you open it.

[sqk7744]

Always keep your virus scan updated and turned on.

As best you can, know what files are getting copied where, and what they do.

Steer clear of msi or executables unless you know the source well!

If in the Infinitesimally rare event that a Subsim member did knowingly try to slip something in, let us know and we'll keel haul'em ( and on an aircraft carrier that can be serious ) ;)

The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is. ~Sir Winston Churchill

Cheers,
-sqk

* WELCOME TO SUBSIM groomsie :arrgh!:
(http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/member.php?u=240230)

[fred8615]

also, avast antivirus software is free for home use and very good, It's caught pretty much anything I've encountered online and it does it realtime so if a site attempts to download a virus it stops it right away.
I can vouch for this. Avast works great!

[groomsie]

Thanks for the thoughts shipmates! I am running Avast right now, been very satisfied with it to date. To clarify, TMO was not extracted yet (I downloaded it but need to return to port before trying to add it as I understand it--at least the opinion seems to be that is best, safest practice). So, it wasn't TMO per-se I'm sure.

Not sure what my computer issue is or what caused it, just my mind thinking over what has been altered or changed recently. But it caused me to wonder if the mods are pretty safe and what--if any--precautions can and should be used.

[Snaptrap]

i can tell you, that all the mods here are clean. the folks here are of a pretty tight knit community on a little patch of data in the far reaches of cyberspace. they all do it for the love of the game. silent hunter is of a rare breed, and modders do what they can to spice it up to maintain appeal for as long as possible. i don't believe there is another place on the net which functions like subsim.

they offer the best assistance too.

[sqk7744]

Thanks for the thoughts shipmates! I am running Avast right now, been very satisfied with it to date. To clarify, TMO was not extracted yet (I downloaded it but need to return to port before trying to add it as I understand it--at least the opinion seems to be that is best, safest practice). So, it wasn't TMO per-se I'm sure.

Not sure what my computer issue is or what caused it, just my mind thinking over what has been altered or changed recently. But it caused me to wonder if the mods are pretty safe and what--if any--precautions can and should be used.
You may also want to give my clean-up/tweak checklist a look too. See if someting on your PC is needing clean-up. http://battleflags.net/docs/SH4WinXPCleanupChecklist.doc

-Sqk

Here's the contents just incase the doc does not open or you don't trust the source, given this thread's discussion :p:

SH4 PC Clean-up Checklist
For Win XP Clients
Specs Check:
START --> MY COMPUTER (right click -PROPERTIES)
General Tab Note CPU Speed and RAM, Service Pack 1, 2 or 3
Check Available Hard drive Space

Optimization:

START --> MY COMPUTER (right click -PROPERTIES)
ADVANCED TAB Performance – Settings à Visual Effects
a) [x]Adjust for best performance
b) Advanced tab Processor Scheduling [x]Programs
c) Advanced tab -> Memory Usage [x]Programs

*** CHECK AVAILABLE HARDDRIVE SPACE BEFORE DOING THE FOLLOWING:
d) Advanced tab -> Virtual Memory Change, [x]custom:
Init/Max =4096 MB -> click SET button
* Note: if you can, 6000/6000 works best for SH4

SYSTEM RESTORE- Slows performance but a good thing, -your call.

Change IE 5/6:
Tools -> Options General -> Delete Cookies, Delete Files, Clear History.
Tools -> Options Advanced -> Security, [x]Empty Temp. Internet Files on Exit.
Tools -> Options Advanced-> Security, [x]Don’t save encrypted pages to disk
Tools -> Options Advanced-> Browsing, [x]Uncheck Reuse Windows launching shortcuts

[Clean up]

In Start-up:
1) Remove ALL non-required Applications
- MS Office Toolbar Startup
- AOL, Real Player, Etc.

Msconfig: Startup
1) Realplayer Loader
2) Download Daemon
3) Any Un-Necessary Applications

Anti-Virus:
1) Update Virus files

MS Update:
1) Critical Updates, etc
2) MSOffice Updates

Maintenance:
Grab a trial copy of Diskeeper from http://www.diskeeper.com
Install and Run Defrag
Then set Set-it and Forget-it feature.

[Rockin Robbins]

And a big :up::up::up::up::up::up::up::up: for Snaptrap!

[badaboom]

:up: Great to see you back:up:

[groomsie]

Thanks to sqk7744 for the tips on clean-up/tweaking, and to others who offered their insight. Just found the problem was a memory stick going bad, so will need to swap that out. Thankfully under warranty so should be no huge problem (and if I time it right it can be taken care of while I'm on vacation)...