Handling Malware Warnings When Downloading Add-Ons
Written By Flightsim.to
Last updated 4 months ago
For Creators
From time to time, you may receive comments from users reporting that a file has been flagged by antivirus software or browser security systems. In most cases, these reports are false positives and do not indicate an actual infection or malicious content. Antivirus programs use automated heuristics to scan ZIP archives, and sometimes flag files simply because they contain certain file types, compression methods, or tools that are unknown to the scanner.
A common cause of these false warnings is the inclusion of executable files such as MSFSLayoutGenerator.exe or similar utilities. While these tools are harmless and often used by developers, their presence inside a ZIP archive can trigger alerts for users. For this reason, we strongly recommend that creators do not include any .exe files or other executables in your uploads. Instead, link users to official sources where such tools can be downloaded directly if they are required.
If a warning is reported, the best course of action is to remove any unnecessary files from the package, re-zip the content using standard compression settings, and re-upload the clean archive. Optionally, you can also include a short note in their file description stating that the file has been scanned and verified to be safe.
It is important to understand that once a file has been scanned and flagged by certain antivirus systems, it can take a few days before their databases are updated to recognize the file as clean. This means that even after the package has been fixed, some users may still see warnings for a short period of time. This is normal and usually resolves on its own as the scanners update. Unfortunately, Flightsim.to cannot help with this.
When we receive a notification of such content, Flightsim.to is legally required to disable access to the file for as long as it is flagged by security vendors. We understand that it is likely not your intention to cause any harm to users, but as a platform operator, we must fulfill our responsibilities and temporarily suspend the file. You may re-submit it once it has been cleared or after publishing an update that resolves the issue.
For Users
If you receive a virus warning when downloading or opening a file from Flightsim.to, please keep in mind that this does not automatically mean the file is dangerous. Many antivirus programs are overly cautious when dealing with ZIP archives and may flag them based on their content or structure, not on the presence of an actual virus.
Liveries, sceneries, and other add-ons for Microsoft Flight Simulator generally consist of folders and text-based configuration files. These are not executable programs and cannot harm your computer on their own. If a warning occurs, it is often caused by unrelated helper tools, such as layout generators, that may have been included in the package. You should be on the safe side as long as you do not run executable files on your computer.
While Flightsim.to actively monitors uploads and takes measures to maintain a safe environment, we cannot and do not guarantee that all files are fully compliant, safe, or free from viruses, malware, or other harmful components. Users are strongly advised to exercise caution and, if in doubt, not to open or run any file on their device. We recommend verifying suspicious files with trusted antivirus software or services such as VirusTotal before use.
Users who still see warnings can scan the file themselves using a trusted service like VirusTotal to verify its status. If no threats are found, the warning is almost certainly a false positive. It can also take several days for antivirus programs to update their definitions. This means a file may be flagged initially but then show as clean after a short time without any changes made by the creator.
If you believe you have found a file that contains malware or any other harmful content, please use the “Report” button on the file page to notify our team immediately. This allows us to review and take appropriate action.