Why you shouldn't install the Media Player patch

sdtPikachu · 06-29-2002, 10:27 PM

This says it all really:

MobyTurbo writes "In an article on BSD Vault a careful reader posts that in the latest Windows Media Player security patch, the EULA (the "license agreement" you click on) says that you give MS the right to install digital rights management software, and the right to disable any other programs which may circumvent DRM on your computer." So if you want your machine secure, you also want microsoft to have free reign on your PC.

You can read the full article here.

Install this patch and Microsoft will be able to control which programs you can run and what mp3's you can play. If you can, disable Media Player's access to the internet (should be doable with a decent firewall), or even better just don't use the damned thing.

: sharpens sticks :

gekko · 06-29-2002, 10:54 PM

It'll happen sooner or later. MS has to incorporate this stuff because everyone uses Windows. Keep in mind, you complete history is also stored on your PC. So if you're ever a suspect for something like child pornography (I'd hope not, but they take your PC, so it's a good example), and they jack your PC and check the files, you could also get busted on piracy, and pr0n if you're underage.

Get a Mac. Plain and simple.

Happydude · 06-29-2002, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by gekko
It'll happen sooner or later. MS has to incorporate this stuff because everyone uses Windows. Keep in mind, you complete history is also stored on your PC. So if you're ever a suspect for something like child pornography (I'd hope not, but they take your PC, so it's a good example), and they jack your PC and check the files, you could also get busted on piracy, and pr0n if you're underage.

Get a Mac. Plain and simple.

or you could be like me and format your HD every couple of months!

Jin · 06-29-2002, 11:00 PM

I swear, I was a few seconds away from installing it on my computer. I was going to install it a day or two ago, but I procrastinated until now and right before I was going to click the "install" button I read this thread. Thanks stdPikachu!

Happydude · 06-29-2002, 11:01 PM

i dont use WMP, for MP3s i use Soniqe, and for videos i use Kazaa....thats about it, so no harm there...

sdtPikachu · 06-29-2002, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by happydude666
i dont use WMP, for MP3s i use Soniqe, and for videos i use Kazaa....thats about it, so no harm there...

IIRC, Kazaa uses Windows Media Player to play the videos. Just like Winamp 3 uses WMP to play videos, and uses IE for the Winamp browser.

There's plenty of non-MS software on your PC that is tied into MS software behind your back, cos it means the coders have less work to do.

Winamp is, what, a 2 MB download? I've seen few video codecs alone that are smaller than half a meg. No "small" app will ever do everything by itself, as many people think they do - it just ties in to pre-existing stuff.

Yet another reason to stop using M$ crapware.

Gekko, have you read about my oyher post, and how it will effectively be able to shutdown Apple? I thought you might be interested...

sdtPikachu · 06-29-2002, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jin
I swear, I was a few seconds away from installing it on my computer. I was going to install it a day or two ago, but I procrastinated until now and right before I was going to click the "install" button I read this thread. Thanks stdPikachu!

Remember, Media Player will officially be "insecure" if you use it for streaming from the internet (or even let it access the internet to download a new codec).

Not installing the patch is the risk you take if you still want to use WMP on the net. Your box could get 0wn3d as a result.

Cyrax9 · 06-30-2002, 01:28 PM

OK, now I"M P-I-S-S-E-D!!!

. I just installed the most recent update for WMP when I got my PC back, y'know what Screw M$ I've blocked WMP from most Net access, as for WinAMP, it runs VIDEO off of WMP, not Audio, WinAMP will be fine for my MP3's. and m$ can screw off.

sdtPikachu · 07-01-2002, 04:21 PM

Here's The Register's take on the whole issue. As you might gather from the following excerpt, they're not too keen on it...

"The pusillanimity of wrapping what amounts to a digital land-grant into a needed, critical security patch is matched only by the arrogance of assuming that Windows is now such a fundamental linchpin of a human life worth living that no retaliation in the courts or at the retail counters is conceivable."

"We've heard the Billg rubbish about Trustworthy Computing until we're sick to death of the trivial incantation. Ironically, Microsoft has just taken steps to make the Internet immensely more untrustworthy than it already is. When we know that arbitrary code will be secretely installed on our connected boxes by software vendors who are not accountable for the damage they may do, any issue of trust is obliterated."

Even if I have to fell you singlehandedly microsoft, your days are numbered.