Question Is Rainmeter really safe to use?

[modeonoff]

Hi, on the internet, people said it is safe to use it and there is no virus, tracking, torjan, etc. Is it really true? I am a bit concerned as it can modify the system’s settings and behaviors so if there is something doggy, the system might be compromised. .

 

[Lutfij]

If you're sourcing the app from here;

Rainmeter, desktop customization tool

Rainmeter allows you to display customizable skins on your desktop, from hardware usage meters to fully functional audio visualizers. You are only limited by your imagination and creativity.

www.rainmeter.net

then yes, it's safe. If you're pulling the app from dodgy/shady locations, then they will most definitely come with stowaways.

 

[modeonoff]

Does this app actually modify Windows’s OS or it is just like other apps running on top of Windows 10 with Windows limiting its access to critical parts of the OS?

 

[Colif]

from what I can tell, it just runs on top of windows. It doesn't replace the shell as such.

How to Use Rainmeter to Customize Your Windows Desktop

Rainmeter is a lightweight application for customizing your Windows desktop.

www.howtogeek.com

 

[USAFRet]

Does this app actually modify Windows’s OS or it is just like other apps running on top of Windows 10 with Windows limiting its access to critical parts of the OS?

Its just a skin, that reads data from the OS and hardware.

 

[modeonoff]

Thanks all. How about those skins? I read that I have to double click the files to install. Do I need to worry that they contain virus, trojan, tracking programs, etc.? Any good sites that have already done the checking before allowing developers to post?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks all. How about those skins? I read that I have to double click the files to install. Do I need to worry that they contain virus, trojan, tracking programs, etc.? Any good sites that have already done the checking before allowing developers to post?

If you obtain it directly from https://www.rainmeter.net/, it is safe.

 

[modeonoff]

If you obtain it directly from https://www.rainmeter.net/, it is safe.

Where can I obtain skins from that rainmeter.net site? They pointed to other sites :

Discover - Rainmeter, desktop customization tool

such as deviantArt where anybody can post. So I am not sure if it is safe to execute those skin files from deviantArt.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, they point to user generated content at other sites.

But also, directly at Rainmenter:
https://forum.rainmeter.net/viewforum.php?f=27

 

[modeonoff]

My mistake. Thanks