So I don't get scammed before installing dll file - question

[johntraderuser2]

The developer wants me to put a dll file (code is not visible in this dll file he says because it's been compiled) in the Custom folder then to restart Ninjatrader. Is this normal/safe procedure? I can't import the file he says, then it won't work. There are no .cs files involved.
Thanks

[NinjaTrader_Gaby]

Hello johntraderuser2,

Thank you for your post.

We would generally advise users not to import anything that doesn't come from a trusted source. You can manually import .dlls and .cs files by directly pasting them into the Custom folder, however again we would caution users to carefully evaluate whether or not the files come from a trusted source.

[johntraderuser2]

Hello johntraderuser2,

Thank you for your post.

We would generally advise users not to import anything that doesn't come from a trusted source. You can manually import .dlls and .cs files by directly pasting them into the Custom folder, however again we would caution users to carefully evaluate whether or not the files come from a trusted source.

Ok. Could you check it?

[NinjaTrader_Gaby]

Hello johntraderuser2,

Unfortunately our support cannot open or import .dll files from unknown sources.

[johntraderuser2]

Hello johntraderuser2,

Unfortunately our support cannot open or import .dll files from unknown sources.

Right okay. One last q if you have time to respond, he made a dll file and I checked file version, it said 8.1.4. But latest version on site is 8.1.3.1 currently. Would this be possible?

[NinjaTrader_Gaby]

I'm not sure what you mean by "would this be possible" - the latest version of NinjaTrader is 8.1.3.1, however developers can have their own version numbers for their own software.

If you have questions about the version of the software they're providing you, it would be best to direct them to the developers themselves.

[johntraderuser2]

I'm not sure what you mean by "would this be possible" - the latest version of NinjaTrader is 8.1.3.1, however developers can have their own version numbers for their own software.

If you have questions about the version of the software they're providing you, it would be best to direct them to the developers themselves.

I mean if the dll file is legitimate could it have that version..

[NinjaTrader_Gaby]

Hello,

The name or version on the .dll file would provide no indication of whether or not it is legitimate.

[xabcdtrading]

Yes, it can have that version. Even when you import code, NT displays a warning message saying that it should come from a trusted source (which they are right). So you can say that about all 3rd party indicators. Dll's are often used in commercial software too where they want their code compiled because it's sold and has a lot of value... doesn't mean it's something that would cause harm - it could do you a lot of good if it brings in features that you need.

So ask yourself these questions...

1) Do they have a website? There is probably less of a chance if they have a reputation that they will give you something that would cause you harm.
2) Check for any code-signing certificates
3) How long have they been in business and do they have a reputation they want to protect?
4) Verify their support information and if they respond to you
5) Run a malware scanner
6) See if they have an update history as usually reliable software does to improve things

To give you an example, we've (xabcdtrading.com - were a 3rd party vendor) has been releasing software for ninjatrader for many many moons. Microsoft has done our code-signing certificates that we hold and this is certainly a good reputation we want to protect. We have thousands of users who have downloaded our free software XABCD News that puts news events on our chart and you'll probably run into past threads and mentions online about people already using it. This is why when we launch a new product (We recently launched one called XABCD Performance which looks at your computer performance and tests lag, cpu, ram, network throughput and comes up with a health score for a trader) people have no worries installing it because of our past. We also have a live chat, and a response support. It's just an example.

If it was just some random dude on the internet, yeah, you have a right to question it. If its like the example above, its probably generally safe.

Hope it helps...