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Gaywallet (they/it)@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org · 2 years ago

The bizarre secrets I found investigating corrupt Winamp skins

jordaneldredge.com

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  • cross-posted to:
  • neat@lemmy.world
  • notawfultech@awful.systems
  • technology@lemmy.world
  • retrocomputing@lemmy.sdf.org
  • retronet@lemmy.sdf.org
  • hackernews@lemmy.smeargle.fans
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The bizarre secrets I found investigating corrupt Winamp skins

jordaneldredge.com

Gaywallet (they/it)@beehaw.org to Technology@beehaw.org · 2 years ago
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26
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  • cross-posted to:
  • neat@lemmy.world
  • notawfultech@awful.systems
  • technology@lemmy.world
  • retrocomputing@lemmy.sdf.org
  • retronet@lemmy.sdf.org
  • hackernews@lemmy.smeargle.fans
I started looking through corrupt Winamp skins and it lead me down some very strange rabbit holes
  • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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    2 years ago

    How do these contain random files like this? Isn’t it just a file that applies some kind of visual effect to the media player?

    • PythagreousTitties@lemm.ee
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      2 years ago

      They’re zip files, with the extension renamed. So you could probably have almost anything in one.

      • LibertyLizard@slrpnk.net
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        2 years ago

        Oh so they’re actually created the same way as a zip file? That makes sense I guess. Thanks.

        • christophski@feddit.uk
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          2 years ago

          It is literally a zip file. If I remember correctly you have to write some xml which describes the layout of the skin and then include any images you need, you then zip it and change the file extension to wsz. So really you could put anything in a skin.

        • FaceDeer@fedia.io
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          2 years ago

          A surprising number of “file formats” these days are really just zip files with a standard for the filenames and folders contained within. There’s likely a ton of wonderful secrets like these to be found in the collective dataspace of humanity.

      • Midnitte@beehaw.org
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        2 years ago

        Wonder how using a zip bomb works out…

        • PythagreousTitties@lemm.ee
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          2 years ago

          I was thinking of moving my “system32” porn archive into a winamp skin. Teenage me would be very proud

    • Gaywallet (they/it)@beehaw.orgOP
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      2 years ago

      The author touches on this near the beginning-

      Winamp skins are actually just zip files with a different file extension

      So they’re treating them like archives and extracting them

      • driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br
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        2 years ago

        Everything is just a zip file with a different extension

        • NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
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          2 years ago

          I take issue with “everything”, as most things are not. But it is a common trick when a developer wants to make a “new” file format that encapsulates a bunch of different files.

          • driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br
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            2 years ago

            Everything, including you, is a .zip file.

            • SteevyT@beehaw.org
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              2 years ago

              It’s just .zip files all the way down

              • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
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                2 years ago

                I just came here to say stuffit.

            • NeatNit@discuss.tchncs.de
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              2 years ago

              😧🤐

            • Midnitte@beehaw.org
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              2 years ago

              Transcription is just unzipping your coding

              • Vodulas [they/them]@beehaw.org
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                2 years ago

                Your browser does not support playing HTML5 video. You can download a copy of the video file instead.

        • morbidcactus@lemmy.ca
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          2 years ago

          Seriously though, it’s been some time be afaik any microsoft product file that ends in x, .docx, .xlsx, .pbix are all just archives and you can totally interact with them programmatically if you want. Really easy to corrupt them but hey, found it interesting years ago.

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