Listening to music on our computers or mobile devices, is nothing new. Neither is watching TV, movies, or web-based multi-media content. Using this content, or the promise of content, to attack your computer is also, sadly, not new.

You can protect yourself, your media collection, and your computer or mobile device, by downloading, installing, and patching the latest media player(s) from the vendor(s) of your choice. Keeping these players up-to-date and fully patched will ensure that you will be able to watch or listen to your favorite shows, movies, or songs when you want to. A list to the most common media players is provided below.

You can also protect yourself by using safe downloading techniques, downloading content from known and/or trusted sources only, making sure your music and media collections are legal, and by installing firewall and anti-virus software and using them to protect your media collection.

 

Software Solutions

• Download Apple's iTunes software. <CLICK HERE>
• Download Apple's QuickTime Player software. <ClICK HERE>
• Download Microsoft's Windows Media Player software. <CLICK HERE>
• Download MusicMatch music player software. <CLICK HERE>
• Download Real Media Player software. <CLICK HERE>

 

Secure It

To make your media player use as secure as possible, consider the following items:

Use Caution When Downloading
Exercise some caution and common-sense when downloading new media, music, movies, skins, pictures, or "features" for use with your media player. Especially when these items come from a source other than the maker of your media player. If you absolutely must have something from an unknown provider, download and save the item to your download folder and then scan the item with your anti-virus software before you open it, play it, or install it.

Modify Web Page Display & Auto-Download Settings
Some music and media players will connect to the Internet and will display web pages or download information when you engage in activities like shopping for new tracks or albums, listening to web enabled radio stations, or browsing your personal library. Consider tightening this feature in your media player by setting the player to prompt you before it downloads or opens items off of the web. This will prevent your computer from becoming infected with any malware stored at the remote location.

 

Web Resources

Windows Media Player 11 Security Information