Flight Sim Labs installs file in Windows system folder
Background is that a Reddit user made a strange discovery three days ago: The A320-X installation program copies two files named "cmdhost.exe" into the Windows system directories "system32\" and "SysWOW64\". Numerous users are outraged: Hiding files in the directory of the operating system is another "malware level tactic", writes one user - many others agree with him. This approach is intended to trick customers into believing that the two executables are part of the operating system and therefore trustworthy.[su_row][su_column size="1/1" center="no" class=""][xyz-ihs snippet="Text-Ad-within-Content"][/su_column][/su_row]
Quick clarification by the developers
Flight Sim Labs reacts quickly and publishes a clarification on Facebook. The file "cmdhost.exe" is part of the company's eSellerate infrastructure and communicates between the eSellerate server and its own interface for product activation. The file was developed to fix problems with product activation that occurred after the release of the FSX version of the A320-X. Furthermore, "cmdhost.exe" has been verified by all major antivirus software vendors and no new discovery at all. However, Flight Sim Labs does not explain exactly what the files in the Windows system folder are looking for. One day later a Reddit user succeeds in de-compiling the questionable files. And he gives the all-clear - the content is by no means malicious. That could have been the end of the story. But things will be different.Flight Sim Labs apparently threatens Reddit with the lawyer
Simon Kelsey has reported numerous FSLabs-critical contributions in the r/flightsim subreddit as "false and offensive". Afterwards he is said to have written a mail to the moderators of the subreddit as "a friendly reminder of Reddit's duty to remove insulting content as soon as possible". Furthermore, the mail should say: "I would hate for lawyers to have to deal with this issue and I am sure you[the Reddit moderators, editor's note] will take all reasonable steps to stop writing such insults".In an open letter: Reddit moderators settle scores with the PR manager
On this email, which is visible here in the original wording, the Reddit moderators react now in an open letter. "We strongly disagree that you[Flight Sim Labs, Note of the Red] welcome well-founded and fair comments and fair opinions," it says in the introduction. Rather, the exact opposite is true, as the censorship in the FSLabs forum and the attempted censorship in the r/flightsim subreddite showed. The moderators accuse Simon Kelsey of abusing the reporting system. In addition, the threats with legal consequences created a sense of insecurity for all people who want to express their opinions or participate in FSLabs-critical discussions. In addition, there are concerns regarding the manipulation of the voting system. Furthermore, some new user accounts have been opened in recent days that attack, insult or discredit other members of the community. All this would violate the Reddit rules.[su_row][su_column size="1/1" center="no" class=""][xyz-ihs snippet="Text-Ad-within-Content"][/su_column][/su_row]
The moderator team reminds Simon Kelsey that there are numerous ways in the United States and the United Kingdom to legally give alleged defamation to defend themselves. Therefore, no post that does not clearly violate the rules of Reddit will be removed.
FSElite.net also raises the hand
As this article shows, Simon Kelsey has also threatened the portal FSElite.net with legal consequences because the site operators allegedly had not deleted insulting comments. In addition, FSElite.net was asked to disclose personal data so that Flight Sim Labs could react directly to the allegedly insulting comment. FSElite.net did not grant this request because it violated its own data protection policy and numerous laws. As a result, FSElite.net was asked to defend Flight Sim Labs against Reddit, which was also immediately rejected. For these reasons, they now only want to publish "fact-based news" on FSLabs products until the development team has regained "the community's trust".[su_row][su_column size="1/1" center="no" class=""][xyz-ihs snippet="Text-Ad-within-Content"][/su_column][/su_row]
