Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Are games on Steam really that safe? Is Steam doing enough to protect us?

I saw a game in my Discovery Queue today. It had kernel level anti-cheat. Which I thought was enough to look more into it... so I saw it was a Single Player game.

Okay, two red flags...

It's an adult game...

Three red flags...

On the forum, people are talking about how Windows Defender is flagging it.

Four red flags...

So why'd this get allowed on Steam?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3279780/Horizon_Walker/
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/app/3279780/discussions/0/591780787069764272/

Windows Defender has flagged many game files in the past.

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Are games on Steam really that safe? Is Steam doing enough to protect us?

I saw a game in my Discovery Queue today. It had kernel level anti-cheat. Which I thought was enough to look more into it... so I saw it was a Single Player game.

Okay, two red flags...

It's an adult game...

Three red flags...

On the forum, people are talking about how Windows Defender is flagging it.

Four red flags...

So why'd this get allowed on Steam?

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3279780/Horizon_Walker/
https://gtm.steamproxy.vip/app/3279780/discussions/0/591780787069764272/

Windows Defender has flagged many game files in the past.

:nkCool:

I agree, that's why I listed multiple flags and not just that one.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Windows Defender has flagged many game files in the past.

I agree, that's why I listed multiple flags and not just that one.

Being an adult game is not a flag.

Neither is a kernel level anti-cheat.

Nor is is a flag to be a single player game.

How can Steam possibly check if the game is safe?

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

I saw a game in my Discovery Queue today. It had kernel level anti-cheat. Which I thought was enough to look more into it... so I saw it was a Single Player game

Okay, two red flags...

Anti-cheat in a single player game is because. . . it's a f2p game with a cash shop. They don't want people hacking the cash shop stuff into their accounts.

("cheap-looking T&A f2p game with a cash shop" is probably a red flag, though. Not for "unsafe game", just for cheesy p2w mechanics.)

It's an adult game...

Three red flags...

Not really. Why do you say this is a "red flag"?

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

I agree, that's why I listed multiple flags and not just that one.

Being an adult game is not a flag.

Neither is a kernel level anti-cheat.

Nor is is a flag to be a single player game.

:nkCool:

Adult content on the internet is a higher risk flag.

Kernel Level Anti-Cheat is a higher risk flag.

Single Player game indicating that a Kernel Level Anti-Cheat isn't even really necessary, also indicates a higher risk.

Windows Defender telling you it's a virus, is also a higher risk.

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

How can Steam possibly check if the game is safe?

So is that a no, that Steam doesn't check games before uploaded to make sure they are safe?

Originally posted by Kiryn:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

I saw a game in my Discovery Queue today. It had kernel level anti-cheat. Which I thought was enough to look more into it... so I saw it was a Single Player game

Okay, two red flags...

Anti-cheat in a single player game is because. . . it's a f2p game with a cash shop. They don't want people hacking the cash shop stuff into their accounts.

("cheap-looking T&A f2p game with a cash shop" is probably a red flag, though. Not for "unsafe game", just for cheesy p2w mechanics.)

It's an adult game...

Three red flags...

Not really. Why do you say this is a "red flag"?

Why does this one Cash Shop game need the kernel level anti-cheat and others do not?

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

How can Steam possibly check if the game is safe?

So is that a no, that Steam doesn't check games before uploaded to make sure they are safe?

They may do some surface screening but to be confident some software is 100% safe someone needs to spend a lot of time analyzing - Steam doesn't do it.

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

So is that a no, that Steam doesn't check games before uploaded to make sure they are safe?

They may do some surface screening but to be confident some software is 100% safe someone needs to spend a lot of time analyzing - Steam doesn't do it.

I think if Windows Defender can flag it, it should raise some more scrutiny.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

They may do some surface screening but to be confident some software is 100% safe someone needs to spend a lot of time analyzing - Steam doesn't do it.

I think if Windows Defender can flag it, it should raise some more scrutiny.

If i had "flagged" every game 25 years ago which gave an Anti Virus prompt as a heuristic Scan detected a false positive.......

Originally posted by Wolfpig:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

I think if Windows Defender can flag it, it should raise some more scrutiny.

If i had "flagged" every game 25 years ago which gave an Anti Virus prompt as a heuristic Scan detected a false positive.......

It's not 25 years ago.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

They may do some surface screening but to be confident some software is 100% safe someone needs to spend a lot of time analyzing - Steam doesn't do it.

I think if Windows Defender can flag it, it should raise some more scrutiny.

False positives happens all the time.

Anyway, if you believe the game is malicious. Feel free to report it via the store page and let Valve do their thing.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by cSg|mc-Hotsauce:

Being an adult game is not a flag.

Neither is a kernel level anti-cheat.

Nor is is a flag to be a single player game.

:nkCool:

Adult content on the internet is a higher risk flag.

Kernel Level Anti-Cheat is a higher risk flag.

Single Player game indicating that a Kernel Level Anti-Cheat isn't even really necessary, also indicates a higher risk.

Windows Defender telling you it's a virus, is also a higher risk.

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

How can Steam possibly check if the game is safe?

So is that a no, that Steam doesn't check games before uploaded to make sure they are safe?

You're free to your opinions, and free to appraise things however you want. Doesn't make it objective fact.

"Higher risk" in your estimation doesn't guarantee risk. So adult game on Steam? There's lots of them. Let's talk when you have an actual example of a threat. Not what you perceive might have some sort of undefinable risk.

You don't like certain anti-cheats, that's fine. Why are you operating under the assumption Valve shares your opinions and values on the subject. What's the risk? Let's talk when you have an actual example of a threat. Not what you perceive might have some sort of undefinable risk.

Single player games? You're free to deem what is necessary in your own projects, not someone else's. You would make different decisions in your projects. And maybe you wouldn't buy this game for the reasons you listed. Ok, well millions of other people are free to make their own choices and aren't bound by your flags, values, or perceptions.

Either Defender is right, and if it's an actual threat. Or it's not, and it's a false positive. Windows Defender raising an issue warrants further investigation. It's not a place to stop and make broad brush claims.

Making a list of lazy and nebulous claims of risk, and summing them up and using that bogus sum to make your claims may not be the big brain move you think it is.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by Scamdiver:

They may do some surface screening but to be confident some software is 100% safe someone needs to spend a lot of time analyzing - Steam doesn't do it.

I think if Windows Defender can flag it, it should raise some more scrutiny.

You're not wrong. And once it's been scrutinized and there's nothing there, it doesn't need to be re-scrutinized every time a user hits the same false positive. Or is unaware it's already been addressed.

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

Originally posted by Wolfpig:

If i had "flagged" every game 25 years ago which gave an Anti Virus prompt as a heuristic Scan detected a false positive.......

It's not 25 years ago.

And Antiviruses still put out false positives with heuristic scans....or do you think?

Originally posted by Wolfpig:

Originally posted by Sit With Me:

It's not 25 years ago.

And Antiviruses still put out false positives with heuristic scans....or do you think?

So for all those flags... It's the Antivirus protecting you that is wrong?

Adult content on the internet is high risk. If you want to pretend this isn't the case, you can just google it.

A single player game with kernel level anti-cheat is another red flag. If you don't know the amount of access kernel level gives, you should google it.

And it's being flagged by your anti-virus...

But it's the anti-virus that is wrong? Based on what? Experience from 25 years ago?

That's what your argument is.

EDIT: And again, I'm not saying it for sure is. I'm just saying it should cause increased scrutiny above what is normal.