When updating to release 6.003 the launcher installed a developer version of DuckDuckGo; I already had the DuckDuckGo latest installation 0.130.2 of DuckDuckGo as my default browser on my PC

[--[---MAILMAN----]

Duck Duck Go version 0.130.2 (from the Windows Store & DuckDuckGo downloads page is installed and my default browser on a W11 Pro 64Bit PC.

 

I launched the game with the IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles desktop icon and when the UI appeared I was prompted to update to release 6.003.

 

So I relaunched using the IL-2 Sturmovik Great Battles Launcher and when this opened clicked on "Read More" to see the updates.  When I clicked on the "Read More..." link a Developer version 1.2.3.4 of Duck Duck Go opens and prompts me to install it and for it to be the default browser.  I can't get past this window/tab to read the changes.

 

As stated version 0.130.2 of Duck Duck Go is already installed on my PC and is my default browser.  It always opened when clicking on "Read More..." link.

Why does clicking on the "Read More... link":

1.  Not recognize that Duck Duck Go 0.130.2 is already installed on my PC and always opened to read the changes prior to this release

2.  Try to install Developer version 1.2.3.4 of Duck Duck Go without all of the setting found in 0.130.2.

 

Any idea what is happening and how to prevent/delete this?

 

Developer version 1.2.3.4 has far less settings than version 0.130.2.   The Developer version is missing the options to turn off AI search results and AI Chat etc.

 

This has never happened before.

 

Anyone else have this happen.

 

Thanks in advance.

[Sneaksie]

We don't install the DuckDuckGo and the launcher wasn't updated for a long time, clicking a link in the launcher should just open it in the default browser. Perhaps your default browser is set to an older version of this browser?

[--[---MAILMAN----]

Well that is what happened.  I am using the latest version of DuckDuckGo from the Windows Store which is also the same version available from DuckDuckGo's home page.  I just verified it again to make sure.

 

DuckDuckGo 0.130.2 is still the default browser when I launch it from my Desktop icon.  If I open the browser and click on my bookmark for https://il2sturmovik.com/ it opens with DuckDuckGo 0.130.2 and I can sign in.

 

But....

 

Whenever I use the launcher.exe and click on the tabs for Site, Forum, Agreement, Support those tabs open in the  Developer version 1.2.3.4.

It appears that the launcher.exe is now associated with the Developer version.  I don't  understand how this prompt came about in the first place (never happened before) and how it installed itself.

 

Any idea how to disassociate DuckDuckGo Developer Version 1.2.3.4 from the IL-2 Launcher.exe.  If I delete the launcher how would I update the game when prompted?

 

I normally launch the game using the IL-2.exe and use the launcher.exe only when prompted to update or access the Forum or site.

Edited September 30 by --[---MAILMAN----
More info

[Aapje]

I installed 6.003 and DuckDuckGo was not installed on my machine.

[--[---MAILMAN----]

It didn't happen when I clicked on the install.  It happens only when I clicked on Update 6.003 Released: Laughs in German read more... and 

If I click on Official Subreddit: JoIn us at r/IL2Series read more... which takes me to a  reddit page.  both sites open in Dev 1.2.3.4.

 

I find it strange.  I can find no search results from DuckDuckGo, Chrome, Firefox or Edge that bring up results for DuckDuckGo Dev version 1.2.3.4.

 

The only time this version rears its ugly head is from the launcher.exe.

 

So I won't be using any of the tabs from the launcher.exe only from my version 0.130.2.  I also have no problems.

 

I am gun shy now about using the launcher.exe.  Is there a way to update the game without using the launcher.exe?

Edited September 30 by --[---MAILMAN----

[86Cheese]

Sounds like you have a virus. I would advise running a virus scan.

[Katzenkorps]

17 minutes ago, 86Cheese said:

Sounds like you have a virus. I would advise running a virus scan.

 

Exactly. I recommend you to download and scan with Malwarebytes. Free version is enough to scan and remove possible PUPs. I have it, free version of Avast and paid version of CCleaner, which is the blast for pc maintenance. 

[--[---MAILMAN----]

I already ran windows defender scan, nothing found

I ran Malware Bytes and found nothing.

 

This only occurs when I use the launcher.exe and click on one of the tabs on that small window that opens.  It goes where it is supposed to, but with version 1.2.3.4 DEV instead of my default browser 0.130.2.

 

It seems there is some plug in of which I don't know that is directing that DEV version to open the pages at https://il2sturmovik.com/ instead of 0.130.2.  I changed my default browser to Firefox then Chrome, but clicking any of the links from only the launcher.exe window still associates with 1.2.3.4 DEV.

 

I am at the point of deleting the game and reinstalling.   What exact files do I need to save to keep all of my joystick profiles, scripted campaigns and recordings so I don't have to go through and set them all up again from scratch?