-
Quicktime vulnerable? What does this mean for Sony Vegas and .MOV files?
Dear All,
I have seen some news today stating that Quicktime should be uninstalled due to two vulnerabilities in the software. I checked this forum to see if anyone was talking about it, but no one has yet (unless this topic is covered in a different forum?)
I have looked at a few news articles. The Verge says the US government is recommending users to uninstall Quicktime – https://www.theverge.com/2016/4/14/11436932/uninstall-quicktime-windows-apple-stops-support Arstechnica says it’s Trend Micro that is recommending the uninstall – https://arstechnica.com/security/2016/04/apple-stops-patching-quicktime-for-windows-despite-2-active-vulnerabilities/ and Trend Micro is declaring that Apple is “depreciating the software” with no source to back up this information – https://blog.trendmicro.com/urgent-call-action-uninstall-quicktime-windows-today/
The problem I have with these articles, is mainly the conflict of information. I can’t find Apple officially saying that they are stopping updates for the software? Many of the comments from the articles ask “who is still using Quicktime?” making a joke about the situation. But, there are many professionals and consumers that still need it to use editors etc. such as Vegas. Trend Micro also says in their article that some of it’s customers are already protected from the vulnerabilities that they’ve found in Quicktime – thanks to their software.
I just can’t help but scratch my head and wonder if this is a bit of a con? I mean, surely Apple whilst perhaps being slow on updates for Quicktime Windows, still understands how many people do rely on this software? Apple still offers the download on their webpage with no mention of the security flaws, or that they are not updating it anymore – many people commenting on the the articles are also saying how it’s disgusting that Apple haven’t at least given consumers a warning that they are not going to update Quicktime for Windows. It seems to me (maybe/possibly) Trend Micro are just trying to sell their protection?
If Quicktime doesn’t get updated, where does that leave Vegas (and other editors) in regard to opening .MOV files? I did a search for alternatives and found ‘Quicktime Alternative,’ but I’ve read here on Creative Cow (from Jon I think) that it is an illegal hack. So what is the alternative?
Will anyone here be uninstalling Quicktime? And if it is true that Apple is not working on updates for Quicktime for Windows any more – where does that leave us?
Best, Rob
-
17 Replies
-
[Rob Clapham] “I have seen some news today stating that Quicktime should be uninstalled due to two vulnerabilities in the software. I checked this forum to see if anyone was talking about it, but no one has yet (unless this topic is covered in a different forum?)”
The vulnerabilities were found in the Windows QuickTime Player. You could always delete or rename the player executable and not have to worry. I don’t think many Vegas Pro users actually use the player. They just need to codecs to process QuickTime MOV files. All you need to do is stop using the QuickTime Player which you probably don’t use anyway. No need to panic. There are probably far more vulnerabilities learning in Windows itself. 😉
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
If I delete the QuickTime player, does that still leave the codec intact?
-
[Eric Konkol] “If I delete the QuickTime player, does that still leave the codec intact?”
What others who have tried this have found is that Vegas Pro actually needs the QuickTime Player so if you delete it, Vegas won’t be able to open MOV files with ProRes or DNxHD. I think it still might work with AVC/H.264 MOV files but that’s the only one it can open without the player.
So don’t delete it if you need to work with these files in Vegas Pro.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
[John Rofrano] “What others who have tried this have found is that Vegas Pro actually needs the QuickTime Player so if you delete it, Vegas won’t be able to open MOV files with ProRes or DNxHD. I think it still might work with AVC/H.264 MOV files but that’s the only one it can open without the player.
So don’t delete it if you need to work with these files in Vegas Pro.”
At least in my experience, that hasn’t been the case. I have mov files from my Canon t3i and am able to edit them even after I uninstalled Quicktime player. If I have any problems with the future, though, I’ll post about it here. But for now it hasn’t been an issue, and I just uninstalled Quicktime yesterday.
-
This has been my experience. No go with ProRes or DNxHD (mov) files, but will work with h.264/avc (mov) files.
Best Regards…..George
-
My workplace’s IT manager is going to go around and uninstall all Quicktime players on all PC’s at work. He sent out an email saying that he recommends everyone do so at home on their personal computers.
I asked him if I don’t run the application, how would it still matter?
His response was it may be possible for someone to access it through your web browser if you have the Quicktime plugin active.
So, since I can’t uninstall Quicktime for my copy of Sony Vegas Pro, I went and disabled the plugins on IE and Firefox browsers.
Just an FYI.
-
I thought that I should check my old footage & I managed to find a few old MOV files. I can’t open them in Vegas so I’m assuming that I don’t have the correct codec installed.
Do you know where I can get free codec just so that I can convert these old file. I’m suspicious about most sites that offer anything free since it’s often loaded with crap ware or worse.
Thanks in advance
-
You can try QuickTime Alternate. I’ve never used it with Vegas Pro because I have QuickTime installed but it might provide codecs that work.
Let us know how you make out.
~jr
http://www.johnrofrano.com
http://www.vasstsoftware.com -
[George Dean] “This has been my experience. No go with ProRes or DNxHD (mov) files, but will work with h.264/avc (mov) files.”
I may be experiencing this now. A client hired a drone videographer to shoot video and I downloaded the mov files, but none of them will play. For some reason I can’t get Quicktime to work after reinstalling it (says I need Apple Application Support, which I can’t seem to download for 64 bit Windows 7, anyways), but it also won’t play in VLC. It’s just a green screen. I cannot import the video into Sony Vegas, either.
Any ideas? Could I convert it to mp4 or something?
-
[Angelo Mike] “I may be experiencing this now. A client hired a drone videographer to shoot video and I downloaded the mov files, but none of them will play. For some reason I can’t get Quicktime to work after reinstalling it (says I need Apple Application Support, which I can’t seem to download for 64 bit Windows 7, anyways), but it also won’t play in VLC. It’s just a green screen. I cannot import the video into Sony Vegas, either.
Any ideas? Could I convert it to mp4 or something?”
Found a solution. I downloaded a program simply called Adapter, which lets me turn mov files into mp4, and now they play fine.
https://www.macroplant.com/adapter/download/pc/
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up