adding code to video

[d_unbeliever]

can i add code (C++, vb.net, C# or any other language) to a video so that if you play the video in pc it will execute that code? if it is doable, any link on how to do this? what to google, drm?

i'm just exploring for a programming project for educational purposes (nothing malicious like malware or virus).

[IKnowNothing]

In theory I can't see why not.
I often add extra files to the root of DVDs with contact info and the like as well as cover art.

This I would expect you can add a folder for your software and autorun.inf (in root) and it should work.

HOWEVER I would avoid any of the .NET languages as you cannot be sure the target machine has the framework installed (bitter experience f trying to deploy software). If possible compile to native code or use something like VB6 where the runtime is small and can be included in the software folder.

Your problem is that not everyone runs insert notification so your code may not be run and it will certainly not run a non windows machine. It will (or should) also kill the autoplay of the DVD so you'll need to add that to your code if you don't want the user to be aware of your code being run.


M

[d_unbeliever]

can i not embed any code or script in the video itself? like in a wmv?

[Ai Haibara]

I believe d_unbeliever is referring to actual, executable program code that would run whenever you played a video file, like an .AVI. The answer is no, although there are some things with certain video containers that come close (but still not running executable program code). Besides, if such a thing was possible, the malware writers would already have exploited it left and right, rather than trying to get people to install their trojaned codecs.

Edit: Oh, you can probably embed code in the video, but you're generally not going to be able to get anything to act on it, just by playing it.

[d_unbeliever]

i've been reading warnings from other forums that if you download a wmv or an avi your pc will get infected with a virus. is there any truth in this?

[d_unbeliever]

what does Tools-> Options-> Security-> Content->" Run scripts command when present" in Windows Media Player do?

[Ai Haibara]

It's possible, with an ASF/WMV. They can make a call to your default browser, to open a webpage, if I remember correctly. There could be malware on that page. Of course, that's not a guarantee it'll get past your browser and/or security software/antivirus/malware scanners.

[Ai Haibara]

what does Tools-> Options-> Security-> Content->" Run scripts command when present" in Windows Media Player do?

You could've just run a websearch for that option, you know.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/9series/security.aspx

[d_unbeliever]

It's possible, with an ASF/WMV. They can make a call to your default browser, to open a webpage, if I remember correctly. There could be malware on that page. Of course, that's not a guarantee it'll get past your browser and/or security software/antivirus/malware scanners.

where is this call coming from the asf/wmv itself or the media player? can i not use it to execute a code or script?

[Ai Haibara]

Are you sure you're not intending to do something bad, with this?

[Bjs]

Simpler method is to use a shell program which contains the video internally.

[guns1inger]

It is executed by Windows Media Player, and would be be ignored by other players as simply junk data.

[VegasBud]

Video is data. Data is non-executable.

I would be very interested to hear what possible use there could be for this...except, of course, for the surreptitious delivery of an executable payload to an unsuspecting target.

[d_unbeliever]

Are you sure you're not intending to do something bad, with this?

100% sure nothing bad. i will not waste my time on malwares.

[d_unbeliever]

Simpler method is to use a shell program which contains the video internally.

how can i embed a video internally in a shell program? put the video inside a database?

[guns1inger]

There are video players that bind the video into an exe that contains the player and the video. When the executable is run, the player displays the video. Bink is one such player.

[d_unbeliever]

There are video players that bind the video into an exe that contains the player and the video. When the executable is run, the player displays the video. Bink is one such player.

so i can bind and avi to my exe program? ok, i will google this.

[guns1inger]

Not saying you can include anything else in a Bink package, only that Bink is an example of what if being discussed. I suspect that to do this yourself you will have to write you own package to include the video player, the video, and anything else you need.

To date, the only time I have seen anything like this is for malware. I know you are saying this isn't what you are trying to do, but this site gets regular visits from people who have downloaded similar packages from p2p networks that always lead to malware.

Reputable coders simply avoid this type of packaging because it the sort of thing that causes trouble.

[d_unbeliever]

here's what google displayed with video binding to exe. i want an educational programming project like this
http://www.softwarelode.com/25623/details-video-pc-binding-encryptor.html

Encrypt your video files to bind to user's computer,One Computer,One Password, You only need to encrypt files one time,Protect the distribution of your video files.
Support various types of video or audio files (e.g., wmv, avi, asf, mpg, rm, rmvb, mp4, flv, and vob) .
When a user wants to play an encrypted file, the encrypted file will pop up a dialog box to
request the user to enter a Playback Password. This dialog box will display the machine ID of the user's computer. The user can send his/her own machine ID to you, and you can create a Playback Password based on the user's machine ID. After that the user can use this Playback Password to play your file on his/her computer. Since the Playback Password is created based on the user's machine ID, the user will not be able to share the Playback Password with other users, the user will not be able to re-distribute your files.

it is just for learning purposes in programming. i think you can always decrypt this?
any similar software that you know of?

[guns1inger]

Camstudio is a free, and will happily capture the video and audio as it plays. After that it can be distributed to whoever wants it with no restrictions.

One of the many toys in my charge at work is a crappy online security system consisting of two IP cameras and some very expensive yet dodgy software (It goes something like this - the cameras are on the network, it records to a PC - it must be ITs problem). One of the biggest problems is that while it can store weeks of footage, and export good quality still images, it cannot export a segment of the video, only the entire stored video (weeks at a time). Rather than wait hours for it to churn out a video that I then have to edit down to a single instance, I use camstudio to capture the playback on the screen of just the incident I need. Simple and effective.

It would easily beat the system you propose.

[d_unbeliever]

Camstudio is a free, and will happily capture the video and audio as it plays. After that it can be distributed to whoever wants it with no restrictions.

One of the many toys in my charge at work is a crappy online security system consisting of two IP cameras and some very expensive yet dodgy software (It goes something like this - the cameras are on the network, it records to a PC - it must be ITs problem). One of the biggest problems is that while it can store weeks of footage, and export good quality still images, it cannot export a segment of the video, only the entire stored video (weeks at a time). Rather than wait hours for it to churn out a video that I then have to edit down to a single instance, I use camstudio to capture the playback on the screen of just the incident I need. Simple and effective.

It would easily beat the system you propose.

yes. that came immediately to my mind. you beat me to it. maybe i will add a camstudio killer in my code like it will exit the camstudio if it is running just kiddin

it just an educational project anyway i know there is no way to protect video from being copied. any tutorial on how to go about this kind of project? any better software similar to this?i will also google it.

[guns1inger]

Nope. The ones I have seen don't bother to try to lock down the video. They simply provide a simple interface for playback. Most are happy to play back directly from a DVD or CD, and so do not require installation at all.

[ZQX]

MakeInstantPlayer can embed a video of any format in an exe file (uses MPlayer)....(If this is what you are asking?)