TLauncher Analysis
In recent years, concerns and accusations surrounding TLauncher have raised questions about its legitimacy and safety as a Minecraft launcher. This analysis dives into the controversies and allegations against TLauncher, shedding light on potentially suspicious activities and the presence of viruses.
The Controversies
1. Virus Allegations and Influencer Influence
- Reports of TLauncher containing viruses date back over four years, but many were skeptical. TLauncher allegedly paid Russian YouTubers to promote the launcher as virus-free.
- TLauncher took down videos and websites hosting TLauncher files, even affecting unrelated entities like the Terraria Launcher due to the similarity in names.
2. Unseen Actions Behind the Scenes
- TLauncher, popular for pirated Minecraft access, raises concerns about its hidden actions. Users may not fully understand what TLauncher does to their PCs and Minecraft installations.
- Notably, TLauncher manipulates the server list, altering server configurations and adding their "partner" servers.
3. Verification through Decompilation
- Much of the information presented here comes from TheMisterEpic's video, but around 95% has been verified by decompiling TLauncher's source code, providing evidence of its activities.
Data Collection and Manipulation
TLauncher is reported to collect information about users' PCs and activities. The following images show some of the data collected:
Additionally, there is proof of TLauncher editing users' server lists within its code:
Suspicious Files and DLL Calls
TLauncher is made and compiled using C or C++, and it contains suspicious files such as:
00006490 0b A irsetup.exe // (in Temp folder)
001baada 07 A cmd.exe // Calling CMD in Installer? Sounds SUS
004043d4 0e A downloader.zip
00404516 0f A downloader.exe
00426596 17 A AdditionalExecuteTL.exe
Furthermore, TLauncher makes calls to Windows DLLs like Secur32
, which is the Windows Security Support Interface Provider, raising concerns about the launcher's intentions.
Recent Updates and Discrepancies
As of 18.12.2022, TLauncher made a statement claiming that their launcher contains millions of lines of code. However, this was proven to be false, as it contains even fewer lines of code than TL Legacy, a previous version.
Additionally, files from the Temp folder appear when starting the TLauncher installer, and their digital signatures have been removed, potentially causing antivirus software to treat them as unknown files.
Ongoing Concerns
As of 17.01.2023, Reddit user MrMasrozYTLIVE shared their experience of being banned by TLauncher after discussing concerns. This suggests ongoing attempts to suppress criticism and discussion surrounding TLauncher.
For those considering TLauncher, it's essential to weigh these concerns carefully and explore safer alternatives for enjoying Minecraft.