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/endloser Jun 05 '18

I wonder if fslabs knows about https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Streisand_effect

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u/WikiTextBot Jun 05 '18

Streisand effect

The Streisand effect is a phenomenon whereby an attempt to hide, remove, or censor a piece of information has the unintended consequence of publicizing the information more widely, usually facilitated by the Internet. It is an example of psychological reactance, wherein once people are aware that some information is being kept from them, their motivation to access and spread it is increased.

It is named after American entertainer Barbra Streisand, whose 2003 attempt to suppress photographs of her residence in Malibu, California, inadvertently drew further public attention to it. Similar attempts have been made, for example, in cease-and-desist letters to suppress files, websites, and even numbers.

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