PBEM file security question

[Spledge]

My apologies in advance to those that will believe this question is out of this board's purview. But it does related to us during PBEM games.

When putting one .cmt and one .nat file into a folder and then zipping that folder, an anti-virus program informs me that one "file" exist. If the same folder is left unzipped and then scanned, four "files" are said to exist.

The important question for me is, if an AV program informs me that a similar PBEM game package received from an opponent (one each of the .cmt and .nat files in a folder, all compressed) that two "files" exist and when the folder is un-compressed and scanned, that five or more "files" exist, are the perceived differences in the number of "files" between what I produce and what is received from an opponent RED FLAGS not to allow the game engine to access those files?

(Aside, the AV scan detects no known threat from the compressed or un-compressed received PBEM package described above..)

Comments from the developers of SPWW2 would be the most prized.

Thanks!

[Mobhack]

These results seem to be an artefact of your anti-virus software and how it is treating the archives and/or dat files.

So, nothing to do with us, ask your anti-virus supplier or log onto their support forums etc. and see if similar results are reported.

[Spledge]

Oh, I was not implying that it has anything to do with SP or anyone that has official connections with it. I was just hoping to get someone, a trusted source, to comment on the matter and give me some advice.

[Mobhack]

Since its not something that I recall anyone mentioning before then its likely to be related to your AV product, is what I was saying. Best to check their support forums and see if its mentioned on there.

(.dat is a common extension used by programmers the world over for generic data files, but ISTR that some sort of video file format also uses the extension, and it may be treating it as if it were that?)

[Spledge]

Understood.

I'll see what I can learn about my AV's interpretation of this matter would be also.

I'd also like to keep this inquiry open in case others have some opinions on the matter too.

Thank you for your input Mobhack.