avasposes

[avasposes]

⚠️ ADVISORY: Malicious Mods, Identity Theft, Malware, and You ⚠️

Hey, all! Not sure how many people will see this, but if you do, please reblog. This is a 'little' post regarding a potentially big problem affecting the Sims 4 community. If you download mods/CC at all (and yes I know CC is a type of mod), this applies to you.

TL;DR: For the sake of your personal info, identity, bank account, et cetera, please STOP downloading any mods/CC for the time being. Especially from the following sites: CurseForge, ModTheSims, The Sims Resource. It doesn't matter if you know the creator or not. Give it at least a week while we all figure out what's going on. If you must, I would recommend only downloading directly from a creator's Patreon (assuming they have one).

Other people have written at length about the mods in question, so I'll just share their posts below.

What's going on?

From the Sims 4 After Dark Discord server (a server you should join if you're not in it already):

⚠️If you downloaded any mod listed in the above post and played the game with them installed, this is the cleaner program Kuttoe (creator of the Home Regions and Townie Demographics mods) mentioned in their post: GitHub - overwolf/sims4-social-events-cleaner: Source files and exe release for a tool to clean up your machine if you have downloaded the "Social Events - Unlimited Time" Sims 4 mod ⚠️

Got confirmation from Kuttoe that as long as you didn't boot up the game with the malicious mods installed (or deleted them completely from your computer before playing the game), you *should* be fine. Still, I recommend that anyone who thinks they might have downloaded any of them run the cleaner program.

Here's an explanation from @anadius2 (reposted by Kuttoe) in the Sims 4 After Dark server (not providing a link to prevent brigading or spam, but you can DM me and I'll give you the link) about what the malware will do to your computer:

And a little dive into the back-end coding stuff for the more tech-savvy Simmers out there:

So, to recap:

Fake mods were uploaded to Curseforge, ModTheSims, and The Sims Resource

@msqsimsofficial had their account compromised on 2 of those sites (they are a victim of hacking, so do not send them hate!)

If downloaded, these malicious mods have the ability to steal very sensitive info (your passwords, credit card info if saved somewhere in your browser, data)

As of right now, antivirus software may not be able to detect the malware

Mac and Linux users seem to be safe; Windows users are the ones that could be affected

Why is this happening?

Unsure. Lots of theories are being made by people far more knowledgeable than me, but from the looks of things, could be crypto bullshit and/or an attempt to steal your data and sell it. This is very, very serious, and could wreck your life if said data/personal info falls into the wrong hands.

Identity Theft: What It Is, How to Prevent It, Warning Signs and Tips - NerdWallet

It's always a good idea to change passwords every couple of months or so, but if you think you've been affected, you also need to change your passwords for things like online banking, email and social media accounts, healthcare sites AFTER running the cleaner.

What now?

I want to talk about how we approach modding our games and downloading files in general.

Please STOP downloading mod file folders from people who did not create the specific mods. Period. This includes Sim dumps, building/lots with CC, mod folders promoted on YouTube, etc. This does not mean that anyone sharing them is doing so maliciously. In fact, I appreciate the amount of effort people put into compiling these resources! But unless you're super careful (and super knowledgeable), you run the risk of downloading malware like this on your computer. Make no mistake, the malicious files in question look like run-of-the-mill, everyday mods. Two of them were even posted from a trustworthy creator's actual account! The only way to know what they actually do is to peek into the code, and idk about you, but I don't know Python. So even after this issue is resolved, you really should only download files from the creators themselves.

But what about CC shopping?

Here's how I like to approach it: I stick to lookbooks and combing through the Patreons/accounts of creators who make items I like. If I see a Sim dump with CC that I'm interested, I try to reach out to the poster and ask where they got specific CC. If I can't do that, I see if it was shared via Drive, look at the individual files themselves, then head to the original CC creator's official download page and get it from the source.

That's all I have for you! Stay safe, and happy Simming! 🫶🏾

[avasposes]

hello (again).

as you might have heard (or might not, as this part of the world exists in a vacuum unless you live nearby), the southeastern turkey has been hit by two massive earthquakes in less than 12 hours (magnitudes 7.8 and 7.7). at least 10 cities have been affected directly: it’s bad, and it’s only going to get worse.

i don’t live in the southeast, but we do have family friends in the affected cities. some are okay, some are alive but lost their homes entirely, some have been trapped under the wreckage and their families have nearly given up all hope because emergency response is sparse, (warning: aerial pictures of collapsed buildings) especially in hatay (not only because the roads and airports have collapsed, and that the earthquake has devastated a fairly large area, but also because of political manoeuvring).

my heart has been broken in many ways since morning, and i am exhausted from anger and worry. the scale of this destruction will only get worse, setting aside the death toll alone, it’s cold and people are left without a shelter, it’s already started to snow in many cities. i know people are not familiar with the politics of this country, but there’s one thing i wish to make clear: this destruction does not come from the natural disaster alone. it also comes from greed, from the desire to profit no matter what, and from pure, unadultered malice. this isn’t my locked twitter, so i’m going to leave it at that.

if you feel like donating, please consider NGOs. also keep in mind that paypal isn’t an option here, so most organisations can only accept credit cards or bank transfers. AKUT is one reliable organisation with teams already on the ground participating in rescue efforts, as they’ve done since the 1999 earthquake.

i’ll be off for a bit.

[avasposes]

Instagram Poses

Hey everyone! Ava here!

I hope everyone is doing alright! I'm so sorry for my disappearance. Can't promise I won't do it again lmao

I've been sooo busy with school, and hobbies, and just enjoying my life in general. Making poses just... isn't on my mind.

Anyway, more about this at the end, let's get to the pics!

I love them so much! I'm so happy, and creating poses makes me so happy actually!

Click here for the download link, and please read my T.O.U. beforehand!

Thank you so much for the support, and welcome to all the new followers! (although most of them are actually just of bots that i've blocked)

About my inspiration: Creating poses is actually pretty time consuming, between making the actual poses (and most of the time I need to learn new techniques, since i'm pretty new to this pose creating business) and then taking pics, editing and everything.

It's time consuming, and while I love to create poses and it's a fun creative outlet, it's takes a while, and if i want it to be fun, i can't force myself to do it.

I'm not on hiatus, and if I ever want to stop posting, I'll probably just delete this account.

Anyway, thank you so much for the long lasting support! I love you all a lot <3

See you on the next one!

[avasposes]

y'all pls don't put your debit card/credit card in that damn AI art app that takes all your pics from how many angles bc i know y'all probably have face id and connect that goddamn card to your apple wallet and i hope you see where i'm going with this

[avasposes]

Fall Posepack

Hey everyone! Ava here!

Back again lol, at least for this post.

I have been wanting to do a fall inspired posepack since I started making poses, and I was finally able to find a leaf acc.

They turned out so cute, and for my first time working with a stigmata rig, they turned out pretty good!

I love them so much!

I wasn't really a fall girl until this year, actually. But this year has been so busy and filled up until now, that I'm just thinking about fall as new begginings, and I'm feeling so good!

Anyway, you can download my posepack here, and the acc leaf here. Before, please read my T.O.U.S.!

Really missed making acc poses lol

P.s.: Acc leaf not mine, all troubles with it, please ask the original creator!

[avasposes]

corporations on june 1st:

[avasposes]

Hi, if it's not too much to ask, would you expand a little on what kinds of things help to create "an environment that isn’t actively hostile for creators?" Genuine question, I'm new to the scene and not aware of all the considerations.

There are definitely a few things the community can do to not be actively hostile towards creators. There are also things creators can do too (this is a 2 way street). I may not experience some of these now, but when I was starting out some were common, and also what creator friends have experienced in the past. I would say i am also quite observant so this is just things I have noticed while being a creator all these years. There are probably more things that can be done, but this is what i can think of right now. I will put it under a read more because i am chatty LOL

Don't expect content from creators. We are people too and have a life outside of the sims community (for example, if people have been following me they know what I have been going through but not everyone is as open with their struggles). Asking, and in some cases demanding more content from people is ignoring them as a person.

Suggestions are great, but don't be pushy about it. Your taste may not align with that of the creator you messaged, and hearing a no is not an invitation to message them again asking the exact same thing. Imagine multiple people doing this and it ruins requests and suggestions for everyone else.

Show appreciation. This is incredibly important for newer creators as they may just feel like they aren't good enough. Don't just click on that download link, click a like, comment and share that post if you love it. If you are able to support that's great too, but only if you have the willingness and means of doing so.

Be polite. You are talking to another human being, treat others like you want to be treated. This goes for creators too.

Actively sharing content around right after release can be quite disheartening. Yes, i get it, it's in early access and people are going to do it regardless because they believe "early access sucks". But this is also dehumanising a person and the effort they put into content. This will chip away at a person over time and is quite careless. You may be 'helping' one group, but screwing over another.

Don't actively use free creators against early access creators to prove a point. I get it, you hate early access, but don't use me or others to push an agenda. Everyone's situation is unique and they may not be able to do it freely. It's also not cool to pit people against each other, we are all in this together.

Support free creators and early access alike. Just because it's free that doesn't mean you shouldn't support the creator. Able to donate? See if they have a donate page or patreon. Unable? That's ok too. Leave kind messages, reblog and like the posts, even just clicking the little heart on the SFS link is nice. Next time you download from there, just check the discrepancy between downloads and the likes and you will see how underappreciated creators can be.

If you think a creator is being shady, don't support that behaviour. That is rewarding them for it, then others will just think they can get away with it as well. Don't let FOMO run your life. Sometimes it's just better to walk away.

Creators need to take a bit more of a hands-off approach to their content. If you want to actively limit the spread of your content to the point you are collecting people's information and sending out trackers to figure out who is sharing your content, maybe it's you with the problem and not the community. When you make content for the Sims you are accepting the ToU and that means your content can be freely shared. If you don't like this, maybe you are creating for the wrong game. I know from personal experience that it is hard to let go of that feeling, but don't embrace it.

User's shouldn't vehemently enforce Maxis' ToU themselves. Yes, it is there and should be followed but this is not the crusades. Use is as a guide to tell the good from the bad, but don't force it down the throats of others like you are some missionary trying to 'civilise the savages.' You are only going to look like a self righteous asshole.

Creators, you aren't entitled to people's money. It should be at their leisure and not forced. If you paywall stuff you really need to take a long hard look at yourself. Users really shouldn't encourage this either.

I think that's about it, or stuff i can think of now. Honestly, this does go in general for the community as a whole too. In short, Don't be an asshole and treat others how you want to bee treated. We all love this game so find some common ground and don't be dicks.

[avasposes]

I Have Been Betrayed….

I dug too deep you guys…..I wasn’ t supposed to know all this!

Ma'am, I’m just here to write my fanfic okay? (which I still need to work on. I have to somehow make Loki and Doctor Strange like each other.) I shouldn’t know all this, but I do. And now you have to too!

As most of you already know, I’m pretty vocal when it comes to people acting like assholes online. I’ve already been dubbed the vigilante of simstagram.

“And with great power, comes great responsibility” - Uncle Ben

In doing that, I find like minded people (or they find me). On more than one occasion I’ve had people ask me if I could dig into[insert creator here]. Sometimes I find stuff, sometimes I don’t. But this here found me!

Before we even get into the tea, let me say this (and I cannot stress it enough): I DO NOT HAVE A LIST! Don’t even ask cause I'mma tell you right now, I ain’t got it! All I have are these screenshots that were presented to me and the power of deduction!

Continuar a ler

[avasposes]

Why them having your email **matters**.

I want to remind people that there is a lot of information that can be linked to people if they are not careful with their patreon profile and email. So no, CWB and others sharing emails/profiles wasn't a minor thing. They could take that email and send it phishing/scam emails that attempt to gain passwords or steal information or encourage people to download viruses. They could use that email to sign up to NSFW subscriptions/porn accounts [I have had this happen to me] which can be a professional disaster if it is a work or school related email. They could use the email address to create ANOTHER similar email address to impersonate you. Yeah. Say your email was something like firstnamelastname@gmail.com. They could then create firstname_lastname@gmail.com and email your work or other places saying that your old email got hacked or something. Then they could impersonate you either to gain information, or to get you fired. They could look up your email on sites like haveibeenpwnd to see if there are leaked passwords connected to it. And/or brute force attack your email. Although I doubt that these idiots are smart enough to know how to brute force an email, this is serious shit. Emails can be connected to financial info like logins for bank accounts, etc. They can use personal information contained in your email (ex: name, company name, school name) to doxx your real life information and contact your work/school/family. As someone who has had this happen, it's not a fun experience. And this is just what I can easily come up with off the top of my head. So yeah. This is not okay. Period. If you are a simmer you really need to be spreading this information about this doxxing ring to as MANY of your fellow simmers as possible as HUNDREDS of them are probably affected. Because it's not just one creator. It's quite a few WELL known creators who have been operating a LONG time.

[avasposes]

Valentines Posepack

Hey everyone! Ava here!

Today, even though it is not a weekend, I decided to post anyway!

I'm sharing a valentines posepack.

It's just three poses, but I'm very happy with them. It's the first time I'm making a pose like the last one, and I think it came out pretty well!

You can download this posepack here, but fisrt read my T.O.U.!

[avasposes]

Trendy Posepack

Hey everyone! Ava here!

Today I'm sharing anither posepack! Nope, I dind't forget about posting, just had a busy week!

Anyway, here are the photos.

I think they all look so cute! I love it!

I got inspired by random pinterest poses, and I think these are poses that I see on random instagram posts!

You can download this posepack here, but first, please read my T.O.U.!

[avasposes]

Shy Posepack

Hello everyone! Ava here!

Today I present you another posepack!

This one was inspired by one of those instagram videos about pose ideas. I didn't copy all the poses from there, but it defenitly inspired me!

I think they look so cute! I love them so much, and I think that for a comeback, and making poses again after not doing them for awhile this is pretty good!

Anyway, enough eith the talking!

You can (and should!) download this posepack here, but first please read my T.O.U.!

[avasposes]

“Reblog if you utterly and without hesitation support gay rights.”

—

[avasposes]

Tumblr Poses

Hey everyone! Ava here!

So, now that I'm back full force, I decides I should fix some of my old poses.

I'm starting with my first posepack ever: My Tumblr Poses!

I've made a couple of alterations, so every pose can fit with my new maxis match style. Hope you like it!

They're pretty much the same, except the first and second poses I believe.

As always, don't forget to read my T.O.U. and you can download this posepack here!

[avasposes]

Comeback

Hey everyone! Ava here!

How are you all?

I know I've not been the most active creator out there.

Honestly, I've been feeling unmotivated. My pc is all broken and bad, wich is terrible, and that's just been messing with me and my creativity.

I hope I can get back to making poses.

Also, I now use maxis match cc, so I might jus re-lauch all my poses with a new maxis match Ava.

Hope ypu don't mind, but hey, my the sims lags so much less now :)

Thank you for all your pacience with me, love you all, and stay strong!

[avasposes]

“Men who can’t cook, clean, or even do their own laundry are not “cute” and “in need of a woman to care for them”. They are spoiled brats so dependent on gender roles that they never bothered to learn the minimal skills to take care of themselves.”

—