Online Videos may conduct viruses

[RedjackRyan]

"A report on threats via the Internet released by a Georgia Tech research center indicates online video may be a new avenue of attack (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071002/ap_on_hi_te/cybersecurity). As the popularity of flash media continues to explode, hackers may be targeting embedded video players and more traditional video downloads with worms and virii. 'One worm discovered in November 2006 launches a corrupt Web site without prompting after a user opens a media file in a player. Another program silently installs spyware when a video file is opened. Attackers have also tried to spread fake video links via postings on YouTube ... Another soft spot involves social networking sites, blogs and wikis. These community-focused sites, which are driving the next generation of Web applications, are also becoming one of the juiciest targets for malicious hackers

[mixtymotions]

Thanks for that Redjack - I've been suspicious of videos for a while, and just this morning I locked up hard and couldn't control/alt/delete out of a site and had to shut down. Scary stuff considering I have online bank accounts.

[RedjackRyan]

It's getting to the point where its almost safer walking through a really bad neighborhood than surfing the internet..

I've been expecting something like this for a while given the popularity of Youtube and similar sites..

[DaveM]

Hmmm....this allows me to raise a question for which I have been in need of a geek for some time. A couple of months ago, I began having problems with Windows Media Player 11 (that is the latest, isn't it?). While playing a music or video file, whether from an on-disk source or through a web page (e.g. YouTube or anything with embedded video on its page), the system freezes up--or at least, the Explorer window containing the video does. In order to shut down Windows Media Player or the offending page in Internet Explorer, I have to close it, get the "not responding" message, and close it manually. Once that happens, the only way to play music or video again is to reboot the computer--even then, it only runs until the problem recurs. The failure generally occurs after 1-5 minutes, and has proven impossible to predict.

I have tried uninstalling Media Player and reinstalling it from the Microsoft site. I have AVG and it has never reported a virus, despite a daily scan and real-time protection. I run two spyware removers (SyBot S&D and AdAware)on my system once a week, and run a registry cleaner at about the same interval. However, nothing so far has restored Media Player to functionality.

Does anyone have any thoughts? I am running Windows XP Media Center Edition--would REALLY rather not go through a reinstall if I can avoid it.

[RedjackRyan]

Sounds like something is sporked (Yeah thats the technical term)...I'd try running chkdsk first.. Start- Run and type in chkdsk /f in the field marked open. When asked if you want to schedule chkdsk to run on your next reboot, answer yes and reboot that puppy.

[DaveM]

Certainly has seemed like a spork to me. I'm just not very good at finding such things.

[DaveM]

Okay....I have tried chkdsk twice now (is "f" intended to be the drive letter? My HD is "c"--dumb question perhaps). It has not discovered any errors but the problem still exists. Please....any thoughts? I may just consign Windows Media Player to the bilges.

[RedjackRyan]

sorry that didn't work.. I got some other tricks, ..let me wake up a bit so i can post them clearly.

[RedjackRyan]

Didn't forget about you Dave, i've been working on a test setup trying to determine the best way (Other than rolling back to version 10) of fixing your issues with Media Player.

What i do know just from futzing around with it.. Power DVD is my friend, Mediaplayer is not.

[DaveM]

One thing I forgot to mention--I can play videos in the MSN browser until the cows come home and there's no problem. It's only when I play videos in IE or use WMP that I get a freeze. It never happens immediately, or after any particular length of time. Definitely has me puzzled.

[RedjackRyan]

Well its been an interesting exercise for me as well. I can't get my test install to fail the way you describe. It could be a number of different things which makes it all the more maddening to try to figure out.

Personally i'd say roll back to version 10 if it meets your needs, at least until Mediaplayer 11 is out of beta for a while. It may be something in XP Media Center thats causing it as well..

sorry i couldn't be any help to ya.

[DaveM]

Quite all right, Cap'n. I will most likely do as you suggest.

The problem with XP is that, since it is almost constantly updating itself, it's impossible to tell precisely when a problem emerged and what might have caused it. Everything ran fine out of the box and with all the updates that came in right away....and then after about six months' use, gremlins began their merry dance....

For the moment, I am working around it by using other media players and the MSN browser I mentioned. Will just have to keep scratching my head until the light bulb pops up and switches on.