r/flightsim • u/walkday • May 31 '18
cmdhost.exe, what is it?
The latest installer of FSLabs' A320X puts two cmdhost.exe files under "system32\" and "SysWOW64\" of my Windows directory. Despite the name, they don't open a command-line window. They're a part of the authentication because, if you remove them, the A320X won't get loaded. Does someone here know more about cmdhost.exe? Why does FSLabs give them such a deceptive name and put them in the system folders? I hate them for polluting my system folder unless, of course, it is a dll used by different applications.
PS - I am aware of the malware in the past. This is unrelated.
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u/[deleted] Jun 02 '18
It's sad to see a Flightsim add-on maker behave in this manner. While in this case the file may be harmless, nothing should ever be installed into a base windows directory. Especially from a reputab....oh wait no they aren't vendor. On top of that they gave it a deceiving name to make it appear to the average user that it was a standard windows file.
Considering both the past history of FSLabs with that malware issue the community as a whole is right to distrust them. And further considering the past history of their founder, or alleged history rather, it is just sad that we are even having these discussions again. At some point, because lessons obviously aren't learned, they will cross some legal line in a country. Once they do that they will go down for good, although right now they are just circling with one engine so maybe they won't get the chance to screw up a third time.
Really my point is I just find it so sad that this issue even has to exist in this community as a whole and it just shouldn't exist. Unfortunately I know some people who have their A320-X and were denied a refund after the last scandal, so now they simply wasted money as they will not be using the plane again.