Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
XCLTM3

Exclude the flightsimulator.exe from Anti-Virus?

Recommended Posts

Has anyone resolved the issue of not being able to exclude the flightsimulator.exe and other associated MSFS files from Anti-Virus software (Firewall) warnings?

I purchased MSFS via the Microsoft Store.

 


 i7 8770K @ 4.7Ghz + Corsair H100i GTX  Water Cooler - 32Gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000Mhz - NVidia RTX 2070 XC 8Gb - ACER X34 Predator IPS GSYNC 3440x1440 Monitor - ASUS ROG STRIX Z370H - 2 x Samsung SSD Pro 512Gb  - 1 x Samsung EVO 1Tb - Win 10 Pro 64  21H2 - MSFS

"All in, all the time"

Steve Summers

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I did exclude MSFS, no problem. Using Kaspersky Internet Security


i7-7700K @ 4.9 GHz, 32GB DDR4, GTX1080, 2 x Samsung 1TB NVMe, 1 x 3TB HDD, Windows 10 Prof

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
1 hour ago, willy647 said:

I did exclude MSFS, no problem. Using Kaspersky Internet Security

And you purchased MSFS via Microsoft Store directly?

The folder and exe are protected by Windows and it's excruciating attempting to unlock it to allow Bitdefender to access it and exclude it.

AFAIK I'm not the only one experiencing this issue-hence I posted here 1 month after release to see if anyone has come up with a no-nonsense no BS way to resolve it.

MSFS is the only program I cannot access for anti-virus.

So if you've found a way, I'm all ears and eyes.


 i7 8770K @ 4.7Ghz + Corsair H100i GTX  Water Cooler - 32Gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000Mhz - NVidia RTX 2070 XC 8Gb - ACER X34 Predator IPS GSYNC 3440x1440 Monitor - ASUS ROG STRIX Z370H - 2 x Samsung SSD Pro 512Gb  - 1 x Samsung EVO 1Tb - Win 10 Pro 64  21H2 - MSFS

"All in, all the time"

Steve Summers

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have no problem using MS Store MSFS2020 and Win10 Defender. 

 

But you have to get full ownership over the MSFS folder, where the exe is! 


Guenter Steiner
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Betatester for: A2A, LORBY, FSR-Pillow Tester
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Is not required to gain ownership of the MSFS folder, if the goal is only adding the .exe to the A/V Exclusion.

In MS Windows Defender, it's enough to create an Exclusion "by process", and type only the name of the executable, that is FlightSimulator.exe, which will add it to the exclusion list regardless of its location, since the exclusion by process is only connected to the process name, as presented in the Task Manager.

Edited by virtuali
  • Like 7

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
3 hours ago, virtuali said:

Is not required to gain ownership of the MSFS folder, if the goal is only adding the .exe to the A/V Exclusion.

In MS Windows Defender, it's enough to create an Exclusion "by process", and type only the name of the executable, that is FlightSimulator.exe, which will add it to the exclusion list regardless of its location, since the exclusion by process is only connected to the process name, as presented in the Task Manager.

correct, you don't need to totally exclude it, from what I understand they "forgot" to digitally sign the exe. The security software is simply doing it's job. It doesn't know who it's from or what it is and because it acts like malware for it's DRM it make security software act the way it does, you just need to add it to the Trusded list and hope they sign it for future updates.


Ryzen 5 5600X - Noctua U12A, 32Gb Vengence, Sapphire Pulse 5700xt, WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 hours ago, virtuali said:

Is not required to gain ownership of the MSFS folder, if the goal is only adding the .exe to the A/V Exclusion.

In MS Windows Defender, it's enough to create an Exclusion "by process", and type only the name of the executable, that is FlightSimulator.exe, which will add it to the exclusion list regardless of its location, since the exclusion by process is only connected to the process name, as presented in the Task Manager.

 

9 hours ago, FPStewy said:

correct, you don't need to totally exclude it, from what I understand they "forgot" to digitally sign the exe. The security software is simply doing it's job. It doesn't know who it's from or what it is and because it acts like malware for it's DRM it make security software act the way it does, you just need to add it to the Trusded list and hope they sign it for future updates.

Thanks gents, I appreciate your input.

However, Windows Security is advising that my AV (ie Bitdefender) is in control of all aspects and all areas in Windows Defender are greyed out and not allowing me to add exclusions via the usual way - ie: Firewall & Network Protection and Virus & Threat Protection are greyed out.

Despite this, I attempted to go to Windows Firewall (Inbound & Outbound Rules) and type "flightsimulator.exe" (without quotes of course) and this had no positive effect. 

As soon as I opened MSFS, Bitdefender displayed the usual "Allow or Block" messages (and there are 6 popup messages that appear in total each time you click Allow) before they clear.

Another thing to note for the tech savvy persons here - that despite attempting to attach the flightsimulator.exe file located Users->WindowsApps->MicrosoftFlightSimulator_8WEK (etc etc), the message popup from Bitdefender shows a different location.

It isn't displaying the entire path (not enough display area in the popup box) but from what I can see this is not the same directory path? Is this a clue?

 


 i7 8770K @ 4.7Ghz + Corsair H100i GTX  Water Cooler - 32Gb Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3000Mhz - NVidia RTX 2070 XC 8Gb - ACER X34 Predator IPS GSYNC 3440x1440 Monitor - ASUS ROG STRIX Z370H - 2 x Samsung SSD Pro 512Gb  - 1 x Samsung EVO 1Tb - Win 10 Pro 64  21H2 - MSFS

"All in, all the time"

Steve Summers

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

if you have the "free" version it's complicated, it's kinda locked for adding exclusions and such, but they are also weird when it comes to exclusions itself. Also Bit takes over to a point from Defender but how much I don't know.

But again the best thing is not to exclude coz it has to do drm stuff that is "unknown to us mortals" it's just best to add it as a trusted application so that it's allowed to do it's thing, how bit does that I'm not exactly sure.


Ryzen 5 5600X - Noctua U12A, 32Gb Vengence, Sapphire Pulse 5700xt, WD Black SN750 NVMe SSD

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I use esetAV and I just browsed to the flightsimulator.exe file and excluded it. It will have no effect on DRM because it doesn't hide the file, it just tells the av not to scan it.

 

Vic


 

RIG#1 - 7700K 5.0g ROG X270F 3600 15-15-15 - EVGA RTX 3090 1000W PSU 1- 850G EVO SSD, 2-256G OCZ SSD, 1TB,HAF942-H100 Water W1064Pro
40" 4K Monitor 3840x2160 - AS16, ASCA, GEP3D, UTX, Toposim, ORBX Regions, TrackIR
RIG#2 - 3770K 4.7g Asus Z77 1600 7-8-7 GTX1080ti DH14 850W 2-1TB WD HDD,1tb VRap, Armor+ W10 Pro 2 - HannsG 28" Monitors
 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
13 hours ago, FPStewy said:

"forgot" to digitally sign the exe

And this is a MS product?  Don't get any better..or worse!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I''l bump this thread.  I've just installed MSFS from the Store and have to turn off AVAST in order to start the program.  AVAST shows the offending .exe buried away in \GLOBAL ROOT\Device\Harddisk Volume20\Flightsimulator.exe.

I've tried to add exceptions the usual way - both AVAST and Defender appear incapable of registering this.  I'm also amazed that AVAST has not cleared this .exe as a 'clean' as there must be tens of thousands of AVAST clients MSFS.

As an aside, since installing MSFS, my Windows 10 fails to boot first time and has to be brought into life via the reset button.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Anti-virus programs do more harm than good. Especially 3rd party ones. If you must use one, the default Windows Defender is the better solution.

  • Like 4
  • Upvote 1

ASUS ROG Maximus Hero XII ▪︎ Intel i9-10900K ▪︎ NVIDIA RTX 3090 FE ▪︎ 64GB Corsair Vengeance RGB Pro ▪︎ Windows 10 Pro (21H1) ▪︎ Samsung 970 EVO Pro 1TB NVME SSD (OS Drive) ▪︎ Samsung 860 EVO 2TB SATA SSD ▪︎ Seagate 4TB SATA HDD ▪︎ Corsair RMx 850W PSU

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I have used Webroot for years, never had a problem with it interfering with any program. 


 

BOBSK8             MSFS 2020 ,    ,PMDG 737-600-800PMDG DC6 , A2A Comanche, Fenix A320,    Milviz C 310 ,  FSLTL  

TrackIR   Avliasoft EFB2    FSI Panel ,  ATC  by PF3  , A Pilots LIfe V2 ,  CLX PC , Auto FPS

 

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
On 9/18/2020 at 10:56 PM, Adrian123 said:

And this is a MS product?  Don't get any better..or worse!

They do not digitally sign the SDK installer either. Every time they release a new version, Windows Defender tries to quarantine it as potential malware when I download it.


Jim Barrett

Licensed Airframe & Powerplant Mechanic, Avionics, Electrical & Air Data Systems Specialist. Qualified on: Falcon 900, CRJ-200, Dornier 328-100, Hawker 850XP and 1000, Lear 35, 45, 55 and 60, Gulfstream IV and 550, Embraer 135, Beech Premiere and 400A, MD-80.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...