I've had this doubt a few years ago when I bought the game GTR2. For some odd reason, it must be run with Administrator privileges. I know this is dangerous for other kinds of programs, but since I don't use the Multiplayer, it's not possible for me to be exploited through this Sim (at least not online). However, I still want to run it as a regular user; how can I do that? I gave a brief look at it's properties and the box about "Run as Admin" is already ticked off.
It's probably installed to "Program Files" or similar and the permissions aren't explicitly set for you to have write access to the files. It could also need to write to HKLM in the registry, something else that would require admin or some tedious registry changes. It really shouldn't be a big deal to go ahead and run it admin. If there is something else on your machine that can exploit it, you're already hosed.
It's actually the other way around. Steam's files can be modified as the user wishes But I didn't mention Steam, so my apologies. Interesting theory, thanks.
In any case this is another example why Windows is so much exposed to malware. That a game (or any other normal application) needs admin rights is insane and inconceivable on Linux. It confirms that many programmers under Windows still don't care about security.
@summerheat It was released in 2006 when XP was the current version of Windows, before there was UAC, and I guess most users then had admin accounts. If it was released after Vista was released, it would most likely not need admin rights. But, I do agree that Vista is more secure
Don't most games need admin rights under Windows? To run in full screen, for ex., they need control over the monitor; and disk access to read parts of the game and send it to RAM.
How come? Even if they are installed under Steam the .exe files are still there, and the necessary permissions. How do "old games" differ?
Old games differ because the XP era didn't care about process elevation. This has already been stated in the thread.
Yeah, I wish I could run it without admin permissions. I opened it's properties and the check-box "run as administrator" is already uncheck.
Did you try installing it in some custom folder (not "Program Files"), because if I remember that game saves its settings in its own folder so that's why it needs admin rights.
@Pliskin The game was downloaded through Steam, and Steam's folders can be modified as we wish So the folder/location isn't the problem. I'm starting to think I'll run this game on a sandbox, just to make sure. It's my paranoia going into action again.
Like a keylogger? Like in a media player? How do you know it's not malicious? What hasn't been stated is that "modern games" may bring devious code inbred, and the process elevation is already there for the taking.
I think I misspoke there. GTR2 is not malicious. What I said was, anything that is NOT malicious should NOT need admin permissions to go full-screen. Like GTR2, VLC, a Youtube Video, etc. I think a full-screen window is nothing more than a big regular window in front of the other windows and menus, that holds the mouse within it's borders.