Changes

For console players, please try all of the steps that apply (particularly the first four under 'check your game setup') and try [https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/how-to-power-cycle-a-device/1/ power cycling] your console. Please note that all consoles require their paid online service to play over the internet.

For console players, please try all of the steps that apply (particularly the first four under 'check your game setup') and try [https://edu.gcfglobal.org/en/basic-computer-skills/how-to-power-cycle-a-device/1/ power cycling] your console. Please note that all consoles require their paid online service to play over the internet.

==SMAPI files disappear or antivirus complains<span id="antivirus"></span>==

==SMAPI or mod files disappear, or they're blocked by your antivirus or browser<span id="antivirus"></span><span id="SMAPI_files_disappear_or_antivirus_complains"></span>==

Your antivirus might remove or report SMAPI/mod files. This is almost always a false positive, meaning the files don't contain a trojan.

Your antivirus or browser might delete, block, or report SMAPI or mod files. This is almost always a false positive, meaning the files don't contain a trojan.

:; '''How can I know if it's actually safe?'''

:; '''How can I know if it's actually safe?'''

:: Nothing on the Internet is guaranteed, but SMAPI itself is most likely safe — you can check by {{github|Pathoschild/SMAPI|reading the code}}, [https://www.jetbrains.com/decompiler/ decompiling the download], or [https://www.virustotal.com/ uploading it to VirusTotal]. (VirusTotal scans the file with sixty or so antiviruses; if only one or two detect an issue, it's most likely a false positive.)

:: Nothing on the Internet is guaranteed, but it's most likely safe — you can check by reading the code (e.g. see {{github|Pathoschild/SMAPI|SMAPI's code}}), [https://www.jetbrains.com/decompiler/ decompiling the download], or [https://www.virustotal.com/ uploading it to VirusTotal]. VirusTotal scans the file with sixty or so antiviruses; if only one or two detect an issue, it's most likely a false positive. Note that all files on Nexus Mods are scanned by VirusTotal automatically before they're available to download.

 

:: For mods, you can check by [https://www.jetbrains.com/decompiler/ decompiling them] or [https://www.virustotal.com/ uploading to VirusTotal] too. Note that every file downloaded from Nexus Mods is scanned before it's available.

:; '''Why does this happen?'''

:; '''Why does this happen?'''

:: Antiviruses are usually concerned because...

:: Antiviruses and browsers are usually concerned because...

::* The download is still new. In this case it didn't really detect anything, it's just worried because it's an unknown file. Antiviruses often show a fake trojan name like <samp>Trojan:Win32/Emali.A!cl</samp> for this. Antiviruses learn to allow it after enough users download it, but that resets for each release.

::* The download is still new. In this case it didn't really detect anything, it's just worried because it's an unknown file. Antiviruses often show a fake trojan name like <samp>Trojan:Win32/Emali.A!cl</samp> for this. Antiviruses learn to allow it after enough users download it, but that resets for each release.

::* Antiviruses may check for certain patterns like accessing files or rewriting code, which are both things SMAPI mods do as part of their normal functionality (since changing the game is the whole point).

::* Antiviruses may check for certain patterns like accessing files or rewriting code, which are both things SMAPI mods do as part of their normal functionality (since changing the game is the whole point).

:; '''How can I install SMAPI or the mod if my antivirus flags it?'''

:; '''How can I download a file which my browser blocks as 'suspicious'?'''

::* You can wait a few days before downloading a new update (or a few weeks for a less popular mod). Once enough users have downloaded it, your browser won't considers it an unknown file anymore.

::* ''Or'' the browser UI which says the file is supicious should have a 'more info' link, or a symbol like '''⋮''' or '''▼''' which indicates options. Click that to show the option to download it anyway.

::* One option is to just wait a few days before downloading a new update (or a few weeks for a less popular mod). By then enough users should have downloaded it to reduce antivirus alerts.

::* If you've checked that it's safe above, another option is to...

::* You can wait few days before downloading a new update (or a few weeks for a less popular mod). By then enough users should have downloaded it to reduce antivirus alerts.

::* ''Or'' if you've checked that it's safe above, another option is to...

::*# Temporarily disable your antivirus.

::*# Temporarily disable your antivirus.

::*# Redownload and [[Modding:Player Guide/Getting Started#Getting started|install SMAPI]] or the mod.

::*# Redownload and [[Modding:Player Guide/Getting Started#Getting started|install SMAPI]] or the mod.