Summary: Depending on where you're downloading your music files from, you may or may not be downloading a virus instead.
Is it possible to get a virus from a music download?
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As with all things, it depends.
If by "music download" you mean that you are downloading music files, MP3's, and the equivalent from trustworthy sources, then the news is good.
But if you mean something else, well, then things could be very bad indeed.
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Music files such as MP3, WAV, and the like are highly unlikely to contain viruses. In theory I suppose, they could, but as I said it's highly unlikely and I've certainly never heard of one.
If you mean downloading music tools and programs, then you need to be very careful. Anything that's a program; a music player or a peer-to-peer networking program could contain viruses, spyware, or both. In fact, the peer-to-peer file sharing program Kazaa is notorious for the spyware that it carries with it.
Finally, if you're downloading from an untrustworthy site, all sorts of things are possible. It's quite possible that a site offering what it claims is a music file could, instead, be offering a different type of file entirely. Including a virus.
Article C2190 - September 18, 2004
In an explorer window go to Tools->Folder options->view and un-check "hide extensions for known file types" option. This is one of the most dangerous defaults settings of all time.
It's possible to name an executable file as for example picture.jpg.exe and if the extension is hidden you might be fooled into thinking you have a picture file. If you have a file with a double extension where the final extension is executable odds are high its a virus.
Also beware of screen saver files .scr. The name means screen saver but your computer handles it exactly the same as an .exe file.
Posted by: Mark at April 30, 2009 4:10 AMi have a nano chromatic and i had a few songs from limewire on it and now it wont even turn on... when i connect it to the charger it wont charge...not even with a wall charger...
Posted by: kc katalyst at May 1, 2009 10:14 PMcan someone help me....
For people who use Limewire, It's ok maybe to download ONE or TWO songs you want really badly a month.. but don't go crazy and download everything you think you might like... and you have to be POSITIVE that it's not a virus
Some Precautions to take would be:
If the Song/Video/Whatever contains only lowercase letters (i know it sounds stupid, but i tested it out. First lowercase download was infected with spyware)
If it has porn in the title, Don't download it obviously
If the song is Really small in file size, or has a short length (as in 0:01-0:30 or so), Its a virus most likely
And if its title is virus, It's probably a virus
Also, Don't risk downloading ANY programs from Limewire. I wouldn't be to sure about any videos either.
Posted by: Kenny at July 12, 2009 6:18 PMSee i have a Mac. Problem solved. Limewire is a free iTunes for me. yes i have downloaded viruses but they just sit there and wait for me to delete them. iChill w/ Virises lol hehehe |_ O |_ iHAPPY
Posted by: Ben at October 6, 2009 11:28 AMi just purchased a pc two days ago, when i went on limewire AND paid to suscribe (included protection)and to youtube to check if it was the right song. I caught the only virus! Not only did I dish out cash to purchase this BRAND NEW PC, but add to that the repair I had to have them make on it's very first day of me having it!!! Now I'm panicking because I want to download lost songs onto my IPOD and don't trust that it will happen again although I had another program to protect my pc installed.
Posted by: Maggie at August 2, 2010 9:53 AM