Would we put it very simple, and say:
Metadata means the block of data that is actually performing some action.
Or, the portion of a file that is directly related to the file. So, for a
MP3 file, the metadata section, is the part of the file that stores your
music. An MP3 file can very well have a ton of extra information in it, like
the lyrics of the song, the tags (artist name, album title, track number of
the album and so forth). Even a virus that is incoperated into the MP3 file,
would hardly be considered metadata, since it is not really related to the
file.
Hope this was of some help.
As to the safety of different filetypes, it is really hard to give you any
safe answer. A few years back, noone would have expected viruses to be found
in dedicated filetypes like MP3, MIDI, picture files or the like. But as the
computer world spins, more and more sofisticated ways of implementing
viruses and malware have seen their birth. And one of the big challenges is,
that so many things do happen automated and behind the scene these days. You
hardly know what is going on, when opening an Email - any longer. Therefore,
the files that seem unaffected by viruses today, may likely be used for
spreading viruses tomorrow. That is one of the big challenges of the
Anti-malware manufacturers - and a big reason for you always to keep your
anti-malware packages updated. That include any security software installed
on your computer. On the other hand, as per date, if you download only from
well-reputed sites there should be little chance of viruses in things like
music files. Be aware when stuff is offered you for free.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Louis" <[email protected]>
To: "'erik burggraaf'" <[email protected]>; "'Don S'"
<[email protected]>
Cc: <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, August 19, 2012 1:16 PM
Subject: RE: Opinions on music files and viruses
Glad to know that. So far I know that .cda and .txt files cannot be
infected.
Are there other virus-safe filetypes, and also, what is metadata?
Metadate is
mentioned among the Windows Mediaplayer controls, as in "Rotate
Metadata", but
no one I know seems to know what Metadata is.
Louis Gosselin
-----Original Message-----
From: erik burggraaf [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2012 8:20 PM
To: Don S
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Opinions on music files and viruses
Hi Don,
CDA files don't contain any meta data. It's impossible that they had a
virus.
Some very clever and ruthless people have figured out ways to attach
viruses to
mp3's, since they do contain meta data, but not actual cd audio files.
Best,
Erik Burggraaf
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On 2012-08-18, at 6:56 PM, Don S wrote:
Hi:
I have heard that it is tough to impossible to attach a virus, spyware,
trojans to music files.
How true is this statement.
I thought I had a virus and assumed it was picked up off a cd with cda
files.
Thanks
Don
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