A legitimate data mod should look like this:
handling.cfg
cargrp.dat
default.ide
ped.ide
water.dat
If you see setup.exe, installer.bat, script.vbs, or gta_sa.exe – abort.
In 2021–2024, cybersecurity firms noted a spike in gaming-related malware named similarly to data_fix.zip, gta_sa_data_new.zip, and gta_data_africa.zip. These files often contain: GTA SA data -Mali-.zip
Because GTA SA often requires admin privileges to install mods, users willingly click "Run as administrator" on these infected files.
Do not execute any .exe or .bat file found inside a suspect .zip. A genuine "data" mod should only contain
.dat,.cfg,.ide,.txt, or.gxtfiles—never executables. A legitimate data mod should look like this: handling
Back up the existing data folder. Right-click the data folder, select "Copy," then paste it somewhere safe (e.g., Desktop or Documents). Rename it to data_original.
Extract the ZIP file. Right-click on "GTA SA data -Mali-.zip" and choose "Extract Here" or "Extract to data_Mali\." If you see setup
Compare the contents. Open the extracted folder. You will likely see files such as:
Replace the files. Copy all the files from the extracted "GTA SA data -Mali-.zip" folder and paste them into your game's original data folder. Click "Yes" to overwrite any existing files.
Launch the game. Start GTA SA and test for stability. If the game crashes immediately, revert to your backup by deleting the modded data folder and renaming data_original back to data.