XP security - 3rd Party server

[ma]

Hi there!

Hope this is the right place for this question (concern).

Couldn't find any matching concern Googling.



XP SP3 & latest updates.



I got my hands on a 14 day free trial "playon" media server

by "MediaMall" that is supposed to transcode real time al

types of media from my PC to my DLNA HD TV set.



I have all my important and personal files in this PC (i.e. finances).

The only way "playon" will perform is to be given full internet server

access from my firewall (zonealarm).



Concerned if this is safe? Can this software be written in a way to copy

my other files (other than video or pictures) to some internet web page

without my knowledge?



I mean if this app can go through my folders and find all media files

and make a library, and transcode & transmit them via LAN, why

couldn't it do it via WAN the other files?



I am asking because I just don't know!



Thanks in advance!

ma

 

[Anteaus]

If by this you mean allowing outbound access, by the sound of things this

would be necessary for the program to function. As such it isn't a major

security issue, that is unless you don't trust the authors and think they

might hijack your data.



Allowing inbound access from the Internet would be a no-no.



Bottom line is, if you don't trust the author of any program, then it is

unwise to run that program on any computer containing sensitive data.



"ma" wrote:



> Hi there!

> Hope this is the right place for this question (concern).

> Couldn't find any matching concern Googling.

>

> XP SP3 & latest updates.

>

> I got my hands on a 14 day free trial "playon" media server

> by "MediaMall" that is supposed to transcode real time al

> types of media from my PC to my DLNA HD TV set.

>

> I have all my important and personal files in this PC (i.e. finances).

> The only way "playon" will perform is to be given full internet server

> access from my firewall (zonealarm).

>

> Concerned if this is safe? Can this software be written in a way to copy

> my other files (other than video or pictures) to some internet web page

> without my knowledge?

>

> I mean if this app can go through my folders and find all media files

> and make a library, and transcode & transmit them via LAN, why

> couldn't it do it via WAN the other files?

>

> I am asking because I just don't know!

>

> Thanks in advance!

> ma

>

>

>

> .

>

 

[ma]

"As such it isn't a major security issue, that is unless

you don't trust the authors and think they might hijack

your data."



Well that is my point & question. Looks like your answer

is it can be done (hijack).

I am not saying they will, I am just asking if it can be done.

If yes, then I apply Murphy's Law, if something can be done

it will be done may be eventually.







"Anteaus" wrote in message

news:B64A438C-87D2-4F4F-8809-FCDF6CD3C519@microsoft.com...

> If by this you mean allowing outbound access, by the sound of things this

> would be necessary for the program to function. As such it isn't a major

> security issue, that is unless you don't trust the authors and think they

> might hijack your data.

>

> Allowing inbound access from the Internet would be a no-no.

>

> Bottom line is, if you don't trust the author of any program, then it is

> unwise to run that program on any computer containing sensitive data.

>

> "ma" wrote:

>

>> Hi there!

>> Hope this is the right place for this question (concern).

>> Couldn't find any matching concern Googling.

>>

>> XP SP3 & latest updates.

>>

>> I got my hands on a 14 day free trial "playon" media server

>> by "MediaMall" that is supposed to transcode real time al

>> types of media from my PC to my DLNA HD TV set.

>>

>> I have all my important and personal files in this PC (i.e. finances).

>> The only way "playon" will perform is to be given full internet server

>> access from my firewall (zonealarm).

>>

>> Concerned if this is safe? Can this software be written in a way to copy

>> my other files (other than video or pictures) to some internet web page

>> without my knowledge?

>>

>> I mean if this app can go through my folders and find all media files

>> and make a library, and transcode & transmit them via LAN, why

>> couldn't it do it via WAN the other files?

>>

>> I am asking because I just don't know!

>>

>> Thanks in advance!

>> ma

>>

>>

>>

>> .

>>