Wait so every single game on my steam

[_galaxy]

Can access my files? Without admin access? That's crazy!

(Yes it can't delete anything but it can still read it).

Can it like, open the file and see its contents?

[The Seraph of Tomorrow]

I assume you are not familiar with programming at all.

All games are designed to read their own game files that are stored on your computer. So they can follow the file path set when installing the game. They can only read the files for the game itself on your computer, It can't read any files that are not included in the game itself.

For instance, if I had a game and place my "school projects" folder in the game folder. The game itself would not be able to open the folder or file since it's not designed to pull or use files in that folder.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if you are trolling or grossly ignorant. Since you're using a private account, i'll assume the worse of the two options.

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by The Seraph of Tomorrow:

I assume you are not familiar with programming at all.

All games are designed to read their own game files that are stored on your computer. So they can follow the file path set when installing the game. They can only read the files for the game itself on your computer, It can't read any files that are not included in the game itself.

For instance, if I had a game and place my "school projects" folder in the game folder. The game itself would not be able to open the folder or file since it's not designed to pull or use files in that folder.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if you are trolling or grossly ignorant. Since you're using a private account, i'll assume the worse of the two options.

The third act boss literally opens your files.. That's the whole point of this post.

[Knowmad]

Originally posted by The Seraph of Tomorrow:

I assume you are not familiar with programming at all.

All games are designed to read their own game files that are stored on your computer. So they can follow the file path set when installing the game. They can only read the files for the game itself on your computer, It can't read any files that are not included in the game itself.

For instance, if I had a game and place my "school projects" folder in the game folder. The game itself would not be able to open the folder or file since it's not designed to pull or use files in that folder.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if you are trolling or grossly ignorant. Since you're using a private account, i'll assume the worse of the two options.

So he wont DOX himself so you cant take him seriously? Get over yourself lol.

[Razulisback]

Its not reading your files...it only sees the size of the file

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by Razulisback:

Its not reading your files...it only sees the size of the file

The game literally shows a picture I selected.

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by † Knowmad †:

Originally posted by The Seraph of Tomorrow:

I assume you are not familiar with programming at all.

All games are designed to read their own game files that are stored on your computer. So they can follow the file path set when installing the game. They can only read the files for the game itself on your computer, It can't read any files that are not included in the game itself.

For instance, if I had a game and place my "school projects" folder in the game folder. The game itself would not be able to open the folder or file since it's not designed to pull or use files in that folder.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if you are trolling or grossly ignorant. Since you're using a private account, i'll assume the worse of the two options.

So he wont DOX himself so you cant take him seriously? Get over yourself lol.

If he had edgy hacker profile it would have been the ice on the cake however it makes me happy another man didn't go that route yet

[Razulisback]

Originally posted by _galaxy:

Originally posted by Razulisback:

Its not reading your files...it only sees the size of the file

The game literally shows a picture I selected.

Is it a picture that one of your steam friends has as a profile pic?

Just chill man...this game in particular is not out to get you.

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by Razulisback:

Originally posted by _galaxy:

The game literally shows a picture I selected.

Is it a picture that one of your steam friends has as a profile pic?

Just chill man...this game in particular is not out to get you.

That's not the point of this topic

I want to know if other games on my steam can also do that. It literally show the contents of the picture.

[Razulisback]

Originally posted by _galaxy:

Originally posted by Razulisback:

Is it a picture that one of your steam friends has as a profile pic?

Just chill man...this game in particular is not out to get you.

That's not the point of this topic

I want to know if other games on my steam can also do that. It literally show the contents of the picture.

Yes, steam is mostly looking to see what type of porn you watch, eventually you will be sent a robot for a Turing test. I know that sounds like the plot to Ex-Machina, but its not...this time its totally different

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by † Knowmad †:

Originally posted by _galaxy:

What's with the people on this forum and the short circuit you guys remind me of my ex-girlfriend. Simple questions is too much I guess.

Bro i was on your side until now yes i think its intrusive and a violation of privacy, but WTF are you so scared of them seeing? Do we need Chris Hansen to take over?

Lol @ ex-girlfriend

That's some hardcore projection

[TVFLabs]

People seem to be missing the point of this post. From what I understand, OP isn't worried specifically about Inscryption doing anything malicious with the files. I imagine they posted it here because Inscryption was what made them realize Steam games in general can do things like that.
Anyway, my answer to the question is: Yes, games can do this. I'd guess protected files like system files are off-limits for writing, but generally I'm pretty sure games can read and write to anywhere on your hard drive (and yes, they indeed can delete files.) Most games just use this to, for example, write to your save file (or pull meta tricks like Inscryption ), but in theory it could be used for something worse.
That said, I'm sure Valve does a ton of screening for trojans and spyware before they let any game onto Steam. I know they get a lot of flak for allowing low-quality games on here but I doubt their policies are that lax for actual malware.

[Luna]

yes they can as far as i can tell.
btw if you choose a music file of some sort it changes the bosses theme to it :)

[_galaxy]

Originally posted by TVFLabs:

People seem to be missing the point of this post. From what I understand, OP isn't worried specifically about Inscryption doing anything malicious with the files. I imagine they posted it here because Inscryption was what made them realize Steam games in general can do things like that.
Anyway, my answer to the question is: Yes, games can do this. I'd guess protected files like system files are off-limits for writing, but generally I'm pretty sure games can read and write to anywhere on your hard drive (and yes, they indeed can delete files.) Most games just use this to, for example, write to your save file (or pull meta tricks like Inscryption ), but in theory it could be used for something worse.
That said, I'm sure Valve does a ton of screening for trojans and spyware before they let any game onto Steam. I know they get a lot of flak for allowing low-quality games on here but I doubt their policies are that lax for actual malware.

I imagine most games dont actually delete your files. But reading it? Why not?

This also applies to every software I download on my computer yes?

Also thanks for the answer, that's exactly what I needed.

[Xios]

Originally posted by TVFLabs:

People seem to be missing the point of this post. From what I understand, OP isn't worried specifically about Inscryption doing anything malicious with the files. I imagine they posted it here because Inscryption was what made them realize Steam games in general can do things like that.
Anyway, my answer to the question is: Yes, games can do this. I'd guess protected files like system files are off-limits for writing, but generally I'm pretty sure games can read and write to anywhere on your hard drive (and yes, they indeed can delete files.) Most games just use this to, for example, write to your save file (or pull meta tricks like Inscryption ), but in theory it could be used for something worse.
That said, I'm sure Valve does a ton of screening for trojans and spyware before they let any game onto Steam. I know they get a lot of flak for allowing low-quality games on here but I doubt their policies are that lax for actual malware.

There's another indie game i forget the name of that has you help the "ai" restore its files. It even adds files in random areas that it can't delete when you uninstall it. so you have to go around following a guide to delete the 2-4 folders/files it made.

Originally posted by The Seraph of Tomorrow:

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure if you are trolling or grossly ignorant. Since you're using a private account, i'll assume the worse of the two options.

Shouldn't you be taking that whole be the change you want to see in the world inspirational spiel you got on your profile and not come off so hostile to a simple discussion post? Dude no where came out attacking the game or trying to change anything. They were simply seeking knowledge. Also no one owes you the ability to see their profile to fit some preconceived paradigm of morality.

[Qoojo]

Originally posted by _galaxy:

Can access my files? Without admin access? That's crazy!

(Yes it can't delete anything but it can still read it).

Can it like, open the file and see its contents?

This is an OS thing. Go to any file/directory, and right-click. Pick properties from menu. Click security tab. The "Group or user names" box has different users/groups. When you click them, you can see the various permissions allowed by the various groups/users.

Now when you run a game, you are running as the logged in user, the application inherits the users rights, and can access the files that the user can. If you elevate the execution, aka "run as admin", then you are running as an administrator, and the admininstrators rights would be used.

So yea, basically every game can scan your computer and read the files that your user as read/list access for.

If you look at C:\Windows, you will see that the "Users" group only has read, execute, and list access, because regular users shouldn't be messing around in there and trying to write modify stuff.