Hidden PC executable programs in DVD discs?

[gibbons]

I am thinking about adding a DVD rom to my employer provided laptop PC. They don't care. Anyway, you know how when you add purchased software to your CD, it always loads AOL and other crap? Can a DVD disc inserted into a resident PC DVD player dump unknown executables or other software onto the PC?

I never cared about this issue when using DVDs in our DVD player. But if a movie "trailer" or other junk popped up in the middle of a customer presentation, that would be very bad.

Does a DVD rom open up a can of worms?

[mdm]

The only thing I've ever see is that PC Friendly crap (DVD player for the PC). Many DVD's will popup a box asking you if you want to install it, one disc I have actually installed it without asking.

[Mirror_Image]

that PC Friendly crap

Lawrence of Arabia was bothersome in this manner.

[Nelson37]

It's not too much of a problem as most DVDs are not intended for PC use, this may get worse as software bloat continues.

[kitty]

Alot of DVDs now have "DVD-ROM" extra features. It is possible to sneak something in. Turn off the autoload on the DVD drive and no program will start unless you pick it.

[snowmoon]

Powerpuff girls had a virus!

If you leave autoload on then yes, any media inserted ( cd, dvd, floppy ) could be carrying a malicious binary and it would not be hard to hide.

[gibbons]

OK, I am running Windows XP. If after watching a movie, I do a "system restore", would it take my PC back to the pre-movie configurations and wipe out any newly added stuff? When I do a system restore now, I have to reload all the programs that weren't previously check-pointed. Whaddaya think?

This bulletin board is pretty cool...no flames yet for dumb questions!

[snowmoon]

System restore only deals with driver, system files, and their associated registry items. I doubt that it would clean up your system the way you are talking.

[adam]

Powerpuff girls had a virus!

Was that a joke or were you being serious? I can't imagine why any member of the production studio would put a virus on a commercial dvd.

[devinemi83]

No he's serious, if its was used in a PC it infected it with a virus, I think it was a well known virus too, I just forget the name. They recalled it and offered to give the people a new "clean" version for free. They said it was okay if you just watch it with a standalone DVD player just not with PCs.