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Author Topic: Malicious code in mp3s?  (Read 2432 times)

InflatableMouse

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Malicious code in mp3s?
« on: April 21, 2007, 02:07:55 pm »

On the internet you can find anything, inclusing things that don't exist like virusses in .TXT files.

So especially developers, would it be possible to hide malicious code in an mp3 file that otherwise plays fine and has no header/time sync errors?

This is a serious question (and a cry for help) because my ipod is really driving me nuts. Apple has sent me 2 new ipods, so this has been going on with 3 ipods and I can't seem to figure out what is happening, except that after syncing a number of files I eject the ipod and corrupt it. It IS when I eject, but when I'm not syncing I can eject it a million times without corrupting it. It happens with Windows 2003, Vista 32bit, Vista 64bit on 2 different pieces of hardware. It has never happened with the first half of my library, only when I'm in the second half of syncing (at least today since I installed the 'eject' bugfix for vista).

Thx,
Ingemar.
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Mastiff

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #1 on: April 21, 2007, 02:51:57 pm »

No, I don't think so. If you don't count any track recorded by an Idol winner as a virus... ;) My guess is that it's a faulty file or playlist.
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hit_ny

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #2 on: April 21, 2007, 02:53:21 pm »

The malicious code was more to do with the player (in this case M$ WMP) getting hosed. But that was yrs back, dunno about recently, don't use it.

An mp3 or any non-m$ media file, on its own cannot do anything detrimental to a hardware player.

I think your issues might have more to do with vista than anything else.
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Magic_Randy

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #3 on: April 21, 2007, 02:56:19 pm »

My guess is that it's a faulty file or playlist.

Good point.  You could rule out playlists as the issue.  Just do a manual sync without playlists.
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InflatableMouse

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #4 on: April 21, 2007, 03:01:10 pm »

Thx for the responses.

Well that's just it. 3 ipods, 2 pc's, 3 different OS's. Also isolated in vmware installed with the original cd.

I tried several USB ports on those pc's as well.

I don't use playlists or smart lists. I sync manually selecting batches.

I am now syncing artists one by one, and eject after each one. Then reconnect and repeat. Time consuming but it allows me to isolate (if any) mp3's that might cause this.

I am really at a loss guys. Any help/tips are appreciated.
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hit_ny

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #5 on: April 21, 2007, 03:13:32 pm »

Well have you used the tools suggested in a previous thread to find faulty mp3s ?

Are any found by them in the batch thats causing the ipod to choke ?
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InflatableMouse

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #6 on: April 21, 2007, 03:16:51 pm »

Yes I have used those tools. 63 files were found, only sync errors and I have moved them out of my main music folder and deleted them from the MC database.

However, as I mentioned I think in that same thread is that I have found mp3's with just noise in the end. They are corrupt but are not picked up by any of those tools. I can only isolate them when I run into them (ie, play them).

The last ones I found I have deleted so I can't test it out.
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InflatableMouse

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #7 on: April 24, 2007, 06:08:46 am »

Fixed. Not sure what's wrong with the files but once I do you will hear from me ;)
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JimH

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Re: Malicious code in mp3s?
« Reply #8 on: April 28, 2007, 04:03:26 pm »

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