ModGuard: Mod Malware Protection v1.5
Added 2024-02-09 00:27:39 +0000 UTCUPDATE v1.5
Sorry for the frequent updates, they should be slowing down soon, as the tracker gets honed in. v1.4 resolves some scenarios that caused "Inconclusive" and false-positive results.
If you've found ModGuard or my other mods helpful,
please consider joining me on Patreon. Thank you! 😊
Change Log:
v1.5
- Tweaks to detection and one additional vector blocked.
- Removed Script Mod Dialog fix as EA has added it natively.
v1.4
- Refined mod tracker to further avoid false positives or inconclusive results.
- Resolved a false-positive specifically related to some mods that save settings to file.
v1.3
- Fixed game crashing when used on Mac.
- Blocked 4 more possible attack vectors.
- Improved ModGuard's defensive measures.
- Improved telemetry for any future troubleshooting.
- Fixed an issue where ModGuard would incorrectly report itself.
- Fixed an issue causing reports for "Inconclusive" and "shutil".
v1.1
- Corrected a flaw in v1.0's prevention and beefed up detection.
- Added two more possible vectors to the ModGuard's detection and prevention.
- Added an in-game update notification so staying protected is easier.
- Added a welcome notification per user feedback, to ensure ModGuard is active.
=====================
Some of you may be aware of the recent events in the community, involving someone accessing modder accounts and "updating" their mod files with a virus downloader.
If you aren't aware, then The Sims After Dark discord has quite a few announcements covering what has been breached so far, what the virus does, and what steps you need to take if you were affected. Here is a page from their site covering the topic. I'd recommend taking a look
It's become clear this isn't going to be a one-and-done thing, as more breaches have occurred over the last week. In response, I have created a new mod to counter it.
ModGuard blocks common virus vectors, tracks the mod file that attempted to download it, notifies you, and shares the mod name with our team so compromised modder accounts can be notified as soon as possible.
This will help not just protect you, but to protect everyone else by minimizing the time compromised downloads remain available.
Think of ModGuard as a safety net:
I'd like to emphasize that all hacks and anti-hack tools are a cat-and-mouse game. There is always potential for a workaround to pop up. As such, please continue to use discretion when downloading mods, especially from small or unknown modders. In addition, be skeptical of any mods that suddenly "update" without providing detailed notes on what the update is for. Be on the lookout for imposter accounts as well. If the name is mispelled, or the account is new, for a modder you know has been around for a long time, it's likely an imposter.
This is going straight to public release of course, as the community needs a tool quick to prevent the spread of this and other viruses.
It also goes without saying:
Make sure you only ever download ModGuard from my official platforms - Patreon, TwistedMexi.com, TwistedMexi on CurseForge.
Features:
- Prevents common virus vectors.
- Finds the responsible mod
- Notifies the user of the compromised mod.
- Alerts our team of the compromised mod.
Install Instructions
⚠ FOLLOW IT WORD FOR WORD. ⚠
1. Delete any existing copies you have for ModGuard
2. DONT use any zip extract options. Instead, OPEN the "TwistedMexi's ModGuard v1.3 Official" zip by clicking it and drag the "Tmex-ModGuard.ts4script" inside to your mods root. That's it!
Comments
Literally became a patron for the month just to thank you for this. Thank you so much for giving us some protection. <3
Rumiko the Fox
2024-03-27 03:42:01 +0000 UTCFound the issue. It's caused by "Tmex-EAHOTFIX-ScriptMenus.ts4script." Haven't touched Sims 4 for months, so I didn't know this is not needed anymore
Slieath
2024-03-11 04:12:21 +0000 UTCThere has to be an outdated mod somewhere in your mods folder or an older duplicate of either. You can confirm this by renaming your mods folder and making a new one with JUST BE and ModGuard in.
TwistedMexi
2024-03-11 03:01:49 +0000 UTCI just updated both though. My BE's version is 3.13, and ModGuard's version is 1.5, but I'm still getting this error
Slieath
2024-03-11 02:54:29 +0000 UTCMeans your BE or mod guard is not up to date
TwistedMexi
2024-03-11 02:46:24 +0000 UTCBE is giving me this error when I load a save: [BetterExceptions] 'TuningAttrCleanupHelper' object attribute 'register_for_cleanup' is read-only (AttributeError: 'TuningAttrCleanupHelper' object attribute 'register_for_cleanup' is read-only). The possible cause it tells me is as follows: Mods\TMex Mods 2023\Tmex-ModGuard\tmex-ModGuard.py
Slieath
2024-03-11 02:45:40 +0000 UTC😍☀️😍
szanne7000
2024-02-29 19:16:20 +0000 UTCThank you for giving us tools. You rock.
Blue Boat With Sam
2024-02-22 02:03:43 +0000 UTCthank ypu. Didn't know I could open it without extracting. I hope it works :-) Thanks a lot :-)
Ingvar
2024-02-18 02:36:14 +0000 UTCIf you click on the .zip file it should open - maybe it will offer you the option to just inspect the contents without extracting. If you can see the .ts4script file grab it and drag it to your sims Mod folder. That is all you need do. Hope that helps!
DAVID EVANS
2024-02-18 02:09:06 +0000 UTCIngvar
2024-02-17 21:19:01 +0000 UTCThank you so very much Twisted😄
RobertAtNyte
2024-02-16 03:16:00 +0000 UTCYou're awesome! Thanks for this :)
Andrea Weaver
2024-02-15 03:22:20 +0000 UTCSent you a very important message in dms,could you check it out?
Bob bruh
2024-02-13 20:53:45 +0000 UTCImmediately joined your Patreon!! Thank you soo much for this and what you're doing!! <3
Jessica G.
2024-02-13 18:24:10 +0000 UTC✨☀️✨
szanne7000
2024-02-13 04:51:18 +0000 UTCThank you for your hard work! We appreciate it 💜
Suzana Davis
2024-02-12 23:53:44 +0000 UTCThank you for all you are doing for our community - we are all internally grateful!!
DAVID EVANS
2024-02-12 17:34:34 +0000 UTCI remember those days too! My first Commodore PET used a cassette drive!
DAVID EVANS
2024-02-12 17:33:46 +0000 UTCThanks for doing this! Been fighting malware since (probably nobody remembers) some guy brought in a 51/4" floppy disk and it had malware on it. Retired now but geez, I had to pull the p.c. out and lug it to IT so they could fix it. Thank goodness we got better stuff, but more problems, eh?
Peggy Garberick
2024-02-12 15:12:03 +0000 UTCThank you!
Rebecca
2024-02-12 14:19:50 +0000 UTCThank you for all of your hard work to make our games better and, now, even safer!
Shanna Riley
2024-02-12 14:02:52 +0000 UTCThis is fixed as of v1.3
TwistedMexi
2024-02-12 10:07:15 +0000 UTCThank you so much
PETRA
2024-02-12 08:27:20 +0000 UTCYou are amazing! Please make sure you get some sleep, my friend! 🐐🐐🐐
szanne7000
2024-02-12 07:53:39 +0000 UTCThere are not enough words to describe how wonderful it is to have you protecting us. Thank you and may your life be filled with joy and love always!
Rita Nicholson
2024-02-12 04:02:26 +0000 UTCThank you for always looking out for us!
Marisa (gfvsims)
2024-02-11 23:56:53 +0000 UTCThank you im new to this. x
Janet Taylor
2024-02-11 15:08:29 +0000 UTCdo u have a mac?
Jocelle
2024-02-11 09:03:44 +0000 UTCThis is also happening to me! I also took the mod out and relaunched the game without the mod and had no more problems with the crashing during loading.
Meredith Culpepper
2024-02-11 03:10:32 +0000 UTCAs a simmer I have to say THANK YOU for always finding a way to help us when something goes wrong!
Tcee's World
2024-02-10 21:06:14 +0000 UTCHi Mexi! I just want to let you know that ModGuard is causing my game to crash during the plumbob loading screen. I thought that maybe my computer was the problem, but I launched the game with and without and it's for sure the issue is the mod. I recorded my screen and I can send it to you if you'd like.
Jocelle
2024-02-10 20:55:28 +0000 UTCThe problem comes mainly from the latest update, which broke the presets because of the addition of eyelashes for toddlers. This distorts the toddlers' faces. If I update then I'll have to remove my presets and so all my sims created with presets will be unusable. I hope a batch fix will be created but in the meantime I can't do anything. You can see the problem here: https://imgur.com/a/xFttLo1
Little L
2024-02-10 15:49:56 +0000 UTCUnfortunately you'd need to update the game. As long as you avoid using the rental system, the game is fairly stable.
TwistedMexi
2024-02-10 15:30:01 +0000 UTCHi ! How can I avoid viruses when I haven't updated the game? (Many players like me haven't updated the game) I'm waiting for the bugs in the For rent pack to be resolved before updating. I used the ModGuard but unfortunately I got a BE immediately.
Little L
2024-02-10 13:20:07 +0000 UTC🔆✨🔆
szanne7000
2024-02-10 06:56:00 +0000 UTCThank You so much!!!! I literally owe you my simulated life!
UnholyGoddess
2024-02-10 04:34:19 +0000 UTCThank you for all that you do.
Personforsure
2024-02-09 20:35:06 +0000 UTCShould it give a message when you start your save like BE? I'm not sure it's working.
Darksimz
2024-02-09 18:32:24 +0000 UTCThank you so much for all you do!
EmilyBlueJaye
2024-02-09 17:28:29 +0000 UTCThank you so much!
Boudicca of the Southern Wastelands
2024-02-09 17:24:20 +0000 UTCThank you so much for this and for all you do!!
Kari T
2024-02-09 17:07:01 +0000 UTCThank you so much!
ChelleBelle716
2024-02-09 16:57:08 +0000 UTCYou're a gem! Thank you for this!
Jess
2024-02-09 15:28:54 +0000 UTCYou are truly amazing! Thank you for your awesome mods and looking out for all of us!
Amy
2024-02-09 13:11:55 +0000 UTCThank you very much!!!
matomibotaki
2024-02-09 13:11:33 +0000 UTCGot it! Didn't realise I could do that 😅 thank you for helping me, and thank you for all the awesome stuff you do!
Pterry Powell
2024-02-09 12:26:31 +0000 UTCThe current attacks don't affect Mac, but it would still notify you of a compromised mod if you were to install one.
TwistedMexi
2024-02-09 12:03:55 +0000 UTCThank you so much for always looking out for the community. It’s a massive shame that you have to make such a mod, but do grateful you have xxx
rkm282
2024-02-09 11:36:39 +0000 UTCNo that's fine, drag it out of the WinRAR screen info your mods folder. This way avoids people from accidentally extracting it too deep into their mods
TwistedMexi
2024-02-09 09:23:18 +0000 UTCThank you, my friend! You are the GOAT! ❣️🔥🐐🔥❣️
szanne7000
2024-02-09 06:17:46 +0000 UTCSorry, I'm pretty daft. How do I move the script file without extracting it? Opening it still brings up the Winrar extraction screen, and I presume I'm meant to be doing it differently. Thanks in advance!
Pterry Powell
2024-02-09 04:56:17 +0000 UTCBecause they are .exe files, as far as I know, you do not have to worry on a Mac. Someone will correct me if I am wrong though.
K
2024-02-09 04:15:30 +0000 UTCty!
Mortimer Goth
2024-02-09 04:02:31 +0000 UTCHi! Do I need to have updated my game to use this mod? I haven't updated my game yet, because there are too many bugs that haven't been fixed with the For rent pack, and I'd rather wait. Nevertheless, I wanted to test this mod, taking care to protect my saves, and I got a BE and an MC exception immediately.
Little L
2024-02-09 03:36:21 +0000 UTCThank you!! Appreciate all you do; you're always looking out for the community 💜💜
Jacki
2024-02-09 02:52:11 +0000 UTCYou are the best! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
PurpleCallaLily
2024-02-09 02:35:16 +0000 UTCThank you so much for all you do for us.
Rebecca
2024-02-09 02:28:29 +0000 UTCThank you
Brwnsister
2024-02-09 01:43:56 +0000 UTCawesome! Thank you, Mexi!
Bryan Irrera
2024-02-09 01:19:02 +0000 UTCThank you so much!!
Diamond
2024-02-09 01:10:59 +0000 UTCThank you so much 💚💚
IrieGamerGyal Banton
2024-02-09 00:40:25 +0000 UTCThank you so very much for this very useful tool!
celticlass
2024-02-09 00:38:31 +0000 UTCWould this work for Mac users? This malware stuff’s got me worried and I want to protect my info.
AdmirerofQueens270
2024-02-09 00:35:43 +0000 UTC
