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Security Alert: Update Your Media Player Software

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What is a media player and which ones are vulnerable?

A media player is software that you use on your computer to listen to music, view pictures, or view video. iTunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, WinAmp, Windows Media Player, and Adobe Flash Player are the media players that have security vulnerabilities.

 

How do I know if I have these media players?

These media players are probably installed on 98% of the computers on campus. If you browse the Web, it is very probable that you have at least one of these media players on your computer. Note: These media players are pre-installed on all BC-imaged computers, either bought through the BC laptop program or distributed by ITS (Information Technology Services).

To see if you have Adobe Flash Player on your Windows or Mac computer:

  1. Go to www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome.
  2. If you see the animation playing below the Adobe Flash Player heading, then you have Adobe Flash Player installed on your computer.

Windows

To see if you have iTunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, WinAmp, and Windows Media Player on your Windows computer:

  1. Click the Start button, point to Programs or All Programs.
  2. If the media player is listed with your programs, it is installed on your Windows computer.

Mac

To see if you have iTunes, QuickTime, RealPlayer, and Windows Media Player on your Mac:

  1. On your desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD (Hard Disk) icon.
  2. Double-click the Applications folder.
  3. If the media player is listed with your applications, it is installed on your computer.

 

How do I update my media player software?

If you use any of the media players listed below, and you are not using the most recent version with all applicable patches, you are vulnerable to attacks.

Follow the instructions below to update the media player software on your computer:

 

iTunes

To update iTunes on your Windows computer:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open iTunes: Click the Start button, point to Programs or All Programs, then click iTunes.
  4. From the Help menu, click Check For iTunes Updates.

To update iTunes on your Mac:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. From the Apple menu, select Software Update.
  4. If iTunes is listed on the Software Update window, click the checkbox next to it and then click Install.

 

Adobe Flash Player

To update Adobe Flash Player:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to www.adobe.com/shockwave/welcome
  3. An update will be prompted if you need an update to your Flash Player.

 

QuickTime

To update QuickTime on your Windows computer:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open QuickTime: Click the Start button, point to Programs or All Programs, point to QuickTime, then click QuickTime Player.
  4. From the Help menu, click Update Existing Software.

To update QuickTime on your Mac

IMPORTANT:If you use FinalCut Pro, refer to the FinalCut documentation prior to installing any QuickTime updates.

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. From the Apple menu, select Software Update.
  4. If QuickTime is listed on the Software Update window, click the checkbox next to it and then click Install.

 

RealPlayer

To update RealPlayer on your Windows computer:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open RealPlayer: Click the Start button, point to Programs or All Programs, point to Real, point to RealPlayer, then click RealPlayer.
  4. From the Tools menu, click Check For Update.
  5. Click the checkbox next to any Security Updates listed and click Install.

To update RealPlayer on your Mac:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open RealPlayer: On your desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD (Hard Disk) icon. Double-click the Applications folder. Double-click the RealPlayer icon.
  4. From the RealPlayer menu, click Check for Update.

 

WinAmp (Windows only)

To update WinAmp:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Go to http://www.winamp.com
  3. Choose to download the free Lite version.

 

Windows Media Player

To update Windows Media Player on your Windows computer:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open Windows Media Player: Click the Start button, point to Programs or All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Entertainment, then click Windows Media Player.
  4. From the Help menu, click Check for Player Updates.

To update Windows Media Player on your Mac computer:

  1. Log in to your computer using an account with Administrator privileges.
  2. Make sure you are connected to the Internet.
  3. Open Windows Media Player: On your desktop, double-click the Macintosh HD (Hard Disk) icon. Double-click the Applications folder. Double-click the Windows Media Player folder. Double-click the Windows Media Player icon.
  4. From Help menu, click Check for Player Upgrade.
    Internet Explorer opens this page: www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download
  5. If you do not have the most recent version of Windows Media Player, download & install it from this page.

 

How can I learn more about these security vulnerabilities?

To learn about the technical details of these security vulnerabilities from SANS, go to: www.sans.org/top20/#c7