DSL Canuck
join:2006-01-13 | MP3 Virus or Spyware. Is it possible ?
Can a MP3 get a virus or other malware ? |
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Kiwi
Premium
join:2003-05-26
USA | Yes |
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Rifleman
Premium
join:2004-02-09
p1a
clubs:
 ·Nexicom
| reply to DSL Canuck
Funny you ask as I have been having mp3s disappear by the hundreds. They were fine one day---the next they are gone. The ones I sent to my dad are gone too. the folder is still there but 0 bytes. I am suspecting mediaplayer is doing this through some update that prevents copying tunes. Just a guess though. I am gonna uninstall mediaplayer 10 and go back to 9. |
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Marilla
I Am My Own Arbiter
Premium
join:2002-12-06
Belpre, OH
| reply to DSL Canuck
*sigh*
Where does all of this stuff come from?
First, the strict, simple answer to the question asked, exactly as written, is yes: ANY file of any type can "get" a virus or other malware. Assuming by 'get' you mean 'contain binary data which could cause execution of a malicious process'.
That said, the full answer is more complex. However, it just so happens in this case that the 'complex' answer matches the simple one: Yes... an MP3 file can be crafted maliciously such that when you try to play it, if your specific player is vulnerable to some malformed information in the MP3, it could cause code to execute which you would consider to be malicious.
You should -always- excersize caution with -all- files you get from sources that cannot be trusted, whether or not you think a file type can 'get' a virus. The fact is, I could put a 'virus' in a .txt file and send it to you. Likely, nothing bad would happen when you open it in a text editor (but then again, maybe your text editor has a vulnerability?)
--
I am the sole arbiter of what is important enough to spend my time on - not anyone else here, or anywhere else. You take care of yourself, and leave me to me, got it? |
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Rifleman
Premium
join:2004-02-09
p1a
clubs: | Sigh---it must be great to know all there is to know about computers and the software to go with it. Us noobs bow down to your expertise.
Why can't you just either answer nicely without the crap or ignore the post? |
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davidsmind
The Eye's Mind
Premium
join:2001-07-04
Canada
| said by Rifleman  :Sigh---it must be great to know all there is to know about computers and the software to go with it. Us noobs bow down to your expertise. Why can't you just either answer nicely without the crap or ignore the post? Because some people are just jerks.
One thing Marilla forgot to mention was don't run as a user with elevated privileges unless you need to. So if you ever do have some stupid application installed that will, for example, execute binary data in the tag info, it can only affect parts of the system you have rights to. |
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DSL Canuck
join:2006-01-13 | reply to DSL Canuck
Thank you very much. |
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