Viral Videos That Really Are Viral

davidwr writes to mention a BBC article looking at booby-trapped Windows codecs. While some codecs required for online videos actually let you watch your content, others are just excuses to infect your system with spyware or adware. As davidwr says: "Now virtual sex can make your computer sick." From the article: "Mr Robinson said many security firms were now logging instances in which spyware and adware firms are turning out software bundles that claim to roll together many popular codecs or just have the one needed to play a particular clip. Some of the codecs do help to play clips, but others are disguised as a variety of nuisance or malicious programs. Some rogue codecs plague users with pop-up adverts, while others invisibly install keyloggers that try to grab confidential data. "

Comments

Firstimus Postimus

[DJCacophony]

This is old news, we already knew that Macs could get GRIDS

One way to know if code is safe to run

[ajs318]

There is exactly one way to know if a piece of software is safe to run:

READ THE SOURCE CODE.

If they won't let you read the source code, it's because there's something in there they don't want you to see. If they don't want you to see it, that means they're ashamed of it. Avoid it.

Re:One way to know if code is safe to run

[ajs318]

If you want me to run something on MY computer, I have a RIGHT to see the source code. If you don't want me to know what is in a cake you're baking, there's no way I'm going to let you bake it in MY kitchen.

By the way, evaluating Source Code with which you can show you have no association to determine its suitability for use (or otherwise) is a Service which may be considered to have Value.

Question

[jackharrer]

Let me guess - only one very popular operating system affected?