Microsoft: No Plans to Tweak DRM Download Mechanism

eWeek: "Microsoft Corp. says it has no plans to change the way its Windows Media Player handles the download of DRM licenses. Amid reports that malicious hackers are using the anti-piracy mechanism to infect computers with spyware, adware, dialers and computer viruses, Microsoft officials stressed that the latest attack scenario does not exploit a vulnerability in the software.

Security experts warn that crackers are rigging .wmv files to use the DRM (digital rights management) features of Windows Media Player to browse sites infested with malware.

Are Hackers Using the DRM Feature in Media Player to Install Spyware on your Computer?

The Windows Media Player's digital rights management (DRM) feature is intended to protect copyrighted music, movies and other material. It can download licenses to use the files, but hackers have found a way to cause the DRM feature to download their spyware, adware and malicious code when you have WMP set up to acquire licenses automatically. Ouch! The quick solution: don't download files from untrusted sources! "