SECURITY: How your grid CAN handle HG traveler assets.
Opensimulator documentation is available but how many of us fully utilize it?
I have a confession to make: I feel like a complete imbecile! I followed instructions on some klutz of a website which gave me instructions on running a standalone grid... GREAT... everything is up and running smoothly. Now lets build some worlds and secure my....
EGAD! Suddenly, it dawned on me, I have been using this software for years and I did not completely READ THE F⭐⭐⭐ING MANUAL!
As a refugee from several worlds, my hosting journey began with a standalone setup, where I was blissfully unaware of the complexities involved in the handling of assets from hypergrid travelers. As a former Kitely merchant, I am looking into ways people can interact with my creations without taking them. Out of ignorance, I took the wrong security measures.
One of the common misconceptions that led to limitations, such as banning prim or mesh attachments (to avoid cheating) at Dismayland, is the belief that the server must download and store visitor assets to display them properly. This is not entirely true. By applying specific precautions, you can prevent visitor assets from being stored or affecting your environment.
So if you do not want "SL-Lara" on your grid, or you do not want the rot from someone's full suitcase, you can rest in the comfort of knowing their assets will not infect your world if you take the following precautions...
Restricting the ability for hypergrid visitors to rez objects or execute scripts is crucial. By doing so, you can effectively ensure that their assets are not saved in your database, significantly reducing the risks of unwanted modifications or overwrites. This approach provides a balanced way to maintain control over your creations while still offering visitors the opportunity to enjoy your content visually.
By understanding how asset management works in OpenSim and applying the correct security measures, you can create an environment that respects the creative efforts of your residents while sharing the beauty of your virtual worlds with others.
This approach is not without caveats: when you travel to other worlds, you WILL appear as a blob while your viewer shows you a cached appearance. It will not stop copycats, the most determined rippers can easily grab what is seen, but without your code and hidden assets, those useless rips end up in stuff boxes, wasting valuable server resources. There is nothing I enjoy more than making clever obstacles in today's virtual 'Wild Wild West'!
TL;DR: When we share knowledge openly and freely, EVERYONE BENEFITS.