THE LAUNCHER

Yes. Code-signing approval is in progress through SignPath's free OSS program; until that lands, Windows treats the launcher as an unknown app from an unknown publisher. Source code is open and auditable at github.com/Fallen-Donkey/Arma2Launcher.

Blue "Windows protected your PC" box (SmartScreen)

This is the common one. It looks scary but has an escape hatch:

1. Click More info (small text under the message)
2. Click Run anyway (button appears at the bottom)
3. Approve the UAC prompt — launcher installs normally

You only see this warning the first time. Once you've run it, Windows remembers.

"Smart App Control blocked an app that may be unsafe"

This one is rarer and harder. Smart App Control (SAC) is a stricter Windows 11 feature that ships on some clean installs, and it doesn't have a "Run anyway" button — only Ok and Send feedback. If you hit this, you have two options:

• Wait for our signing to clear — we'll announce in Discord when it's live.
• Turn Smart App Control off: Settings → Privacy & Security → Windows Security → App & browser control → Smart App Control settings → Off.

⚠ Turning Smart App Control off is permanent — you can't re-enable it without reinstalling Windows. Only do this if you're comfortable managing your own app trust (most gamers running mods, custom launchers, or DayZ tools already are).

Why the warnings exist at all

Windows uses a reputation system: brand-new executables from publishers without millions of installs trip these warnings by default, regardless of whether the app is malicious. We're a community project, not Microsoft Office — early adopters always see the warnings until reputation builds up. After we're signed, the warnings disappear for new users automatically.

Prefer not to use our launcher?

You can join BYES servers without it. Use DayZ Commander (or any tool that downloads DayZ mod files) to grab the mods, then in Arma 2 Operation Arrowhead open the Expansions menu and enable them in this load order — order matters:

1. @DayZ_Epoch
2. @DayzOverwatch (Overpoch servers only)

Then connect via Multiplayer → Remote in-game, or filter by "BYES" in the server browser. Current server addresses on the servers page. Our launcher just automates this — the manual path always works.

Still not sure? Hop into the Discord and ping a mod. Happy to walk you through it or answer questions about what the launcher actually does on your machine.