[CloCloZ]

I'm new to IL-2, so I'm not sure if I'm missing some technical details and I don't know if this has been suggested in the past, but in my opinion the modding/hacking/cheating debate could have a solution just by implementing public key cryptography in any FM/DM critical software module.

This way:
- by digitally signing their own made modules 1C could certify the authenticity of those official pieces of software
- by signing mods submitted to 1C by third parties (amateur users included), Oleg could give its approval to the FM/DM of new or modified planes, making them equally "official"
- IL2 online server administrators could decide which planes are allowed just by checking the digital signatures (1C signature or the signature of other trusted sources) or, on the contrary, granting even not signed planes
- every group of people agreeing on a defined and publicly known set of digitally signed planes, even modded, could fly on properly set servers (just trusting the good faith of server administrators, of course!) without the fear of "cheats"
- modders would be recognized as a welcomed source of improvement and not as cheating promoters
- offline users would be able to fly everything they want on their machines, allowing even mods by signing them, and that's a good thing, IMHO

Of course, all the above ideas implies that the sim is intrinsecally designed for cryptography (crypto modules, proper modularity of the pieces of software, etc.) and I doubt that now Oleg would make such an investment in a product that's at the end of its life.
The other problem is that every mod possibly "made official" could mean ... one thing less to sell for 1C!
But I like the "open model" and I really would like to have such a ("controlled") thing in SoW/BoB, if not in IL-2.

Just my 2 cents ...