@Aaron Walkhouse

Thanks. I have Roxio CD burner on my computer. Is that a non-exploitable media player? I really don't listen to the mp3's on my comp, I just burn them to CD's.

if you have a firewall that allows configuration of specific programs being allowed/disallowed to access the net, then simply block your media player from going online...this should prevent any exploits and will also prevent your player from reporting back home and telling them you just watched a movie on it that was released to theaters last week (or better yet, that hasn't even been in the theaters yet!..mwahahahahahaha! like a certain DVD kwality flick I watched 2 days before it saw the theaters!)

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So Long and Thanks for All the Files
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Beware of the big 3 insurance companies in Texas! Read your policies carefully (maybe you'll need a lawyer) Allstate, Farmers & State Farm are overextended and their 'coverage' is worthless...a true waste of your money Read This

@ Peerless

I have Windows Firewall. How would I not allow my media player to access the net? Would I not add them to the exceptions on my firewall? Is that what you mean?

I don't think that the windows firewall will do what I describe...I know that Norton's, Kaspersky's and ZoneAlarm will though (I still use Norton's on this machine but am about to change over to Kaspersky's)..

I'm sure other 'commercial' firewalls will do this also, but the above listed one I know for a fact will...

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So Long and Thanks for All the Files
_____________________________________________

Beware of the big 3 insurance companies in Texas! Read your policies carefully (maybe you'll need a lawyer) Allstate, Farmers & State Farm are overextended and their 'coverage' is worthless...a true waste of your money Read This

Thanks a lot for your help, Peerless.

I switched from Windows Firewall to Norton's firewall and I have it set like you mentioned. So, hopefully I am good to go!

I haven't downloaded any movies yet...now I don't know if I ever will. I'm too scared! *LOL*

***cough*** that's why certain things of such value MUST be backed up to a CD/DVD, or even better yet a HDD that is used only for backup and is never connected to a machine unless data is being transferred to it or from it (and being nestled in a nice lead lined case would surely protect it from a lot of 'normal' things...I don't consider a fission/fusion bomb to be normal)

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So Long and Thanks for All the Files
_____________________________________________

Beware of the big 3 insurance companies in Texas! Read your policies carefully (maybe you'll need a lawyer) Allstate, Farmers & State Farm are overextended and their 'coverage' is worthless...a true waste of your money Read This

To partly paraphrase peerless, above...

If you are wise enough to have an external HDD,

NEVER allow it to be connected to your computer while you are on line.

Never.
No matter what.