What can a steam game realistically do to my computer?

[_galaxy]

Assuming I have all my software up to date and download a game. What can it do to my computer?

[76561199676067268]

Um, what do you mean? It's just a program. In theory it can do anything, except things which are prohibited by the operating system. Like deleting system files.

[Brian9824]

It can run, there has been in the entire history of steam 1 case of a game having malware uploaded, and that was a result of a dev account being compromised on their end giving them access to steam tools.

As a result Steam changed their security so that it requires 2FA from dev's to upload any builds. So you'd have better odds getting a virus from browsing websites then downloading games on steam.

[76561199676067268]

Messaggio originale di Brian9824:

It can run, there has been in the entire history of steam 1 case of a game having malware uploaded, and that was a result of a dev account being compromised on their end giving them access to steam tools.

As a result Steam changed their security so that it requires 2FA from dev's to upload any builds. So you'd have better odds getting a virus from browsing websites then downloading games on steam.

2FA only ensures no other people than the dev can upload releases. It doesn't ensure that the uploads are virus- or malware-free.

[Tsubame ⭐]

Yes, but developers are not going to do that unless they want to be banned, not to mention very likely legal issues both from Steam and third parties.

The chance is there, but is incredibly low, less than just browsing the internet, as pointed above.

[_galaxy]

Messaggio originale di ghost:

Um, what do you mean? It's just a program. In theory it can do anything, except things which are prohibited by the operating system. Like deleting system files.

What does anything even mean? I'm not a computer expert.

[Fall2YrDoom]

sound's like you are very young, maybe stay away from computers until you go take a course on them..

[Fall2YrDoom]

BTW any game that has multiplayer = you are a easy target to get hacked VPN or not..

[_galaxy]

Why is it so hard to get an answer on this?

[Mad Scientist]

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Why is it so hard to get an answer on this?

Be more specific as to the question.
Very vague questions can get very vague answers, so the answer as-is is basically
"If your system can handle the game, it will run the game".

[Crazy Tiger]

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Why is it so hard to get an answer on this?

Have you considered that it might be the result of the generic nature of the question you asked?

[_galaxy]

Messaggio originale di Crazy Tiger:

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Why is it so hard to get an answer on this?

Have you considered that it might be the result of the generic nature of the question you asked?

Can a game see my browser history? Send my files to the server of the developers? Being on even if I'm not playing it? If it's not developed well can I catch a virus?

[Mad Scientist]

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Can a game see my browser history?

If it's using the browser for the game, it likely wouldn't be legal to do.
If the game doesn't use your browser, chance is basically 0.
If the game uses google or amazon services, it likely collects data on the user or their habits.

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Send my files to the server of the developers?

It can send bug reports if you opt in or on a crash hit the little "Submit" button that says it will send an error log on a pop-up window that shows you the crash error which gives you the option to submit or just exit without submitting the error. Not a thing for a good amount of games.
Sending actual files not bug reports is usually manually done via an official discord or official website, due to the file size, to investigate reported bugs.

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Being on even if I'm not playing it? If it's not developed well can I catch a virus?

Someone would have to not only get it into the game via Developer access, but to not be seen by Valves virus checks as well, in addition to the systems own security somehow not seeing it. Ultra rare chance.

Not Developed well usually just causes crashes or poor performance due to over-coding or not enough good coding.

[76561199676067268]

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Messaggio originale di Crazy Tiger:

Have you considered that it might be the result of the generic nature of the question you asked?

Can a game see my browser history? Send my files to the server of the developers? Being on even if I'm not playing it? If it's not developed well can I catch a virus?

I did give you the answer, but you decided to reply in a snarky way. Yes it can (in theory) do all of those things. But as others have said, the chance of that happening is not very great.

[Start_Running]

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Assuming I have all my software up to date and download a game. What can it do to my computer?

The worst thing any game has ever managed to do to a pc was corrupt the MFT on a drive.

[_galaxy]

Messaggio originale di Start_Running:

Messaggio originale di _galaxy:

Assuming I have all my software up to date and download a game. What can it do to my computer?

The worst thing any game has ever managed to do to a pc was corrupt the MFT on a drive.

That sounds very unpleasant though!