Which settings affect security in Windows Media Player?

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

The following table shows settings in Windows Media Player that help you to secure your computer while using the Player. For more information about security settings for the Player, see the Windows Media Player Security statement online. Except where noted, the settings in the table are located on the Security tab of the Options dialog box.

To access the Security tab, click the arrow below the Now Playing tab, click More Options, and then click the Security tab.

This setting

Does this

Run script commands when present check box

Specifies whether to allow scripts to run in digital media content containing scripts. When you download content from the Internet, the scripts are downloaded to your computer and run when you play the content. Webpages may contain scripts that could run on your computer without your knowledge. For example, malicious scripts could perform unwanted actions on your computer, such as deleting files.

Run script commands and rich media streams if the Player is in a Web page check box

Specifies whether script commands in content can run when the Player is embedded in a webpage. This option can also prevent rich media streams from running. Rich media streams contain a slide show or a movie and are created by using Microsoft Producer for Microsoft Office PowerPoint 2003.

Play enhanced content that uses Web pages without prompting check box

Specifies whether the Player warns you before displaying a webpage that uses enhanced content. If you select this option, you will not be warned before opening enhanced content.

Show local captions when present check box

Specifies whether you want Synchronized Accessible Media Interchange (SAMI) captions to be displayed during playback. In some cases, keeping this check box cleared will prevent captions from displaying.

Zone settings button

Opens the Security dialog box for Internet Explorer. You can change the security settings to control how content is displayed in webpages and change the level of access websites have to your computer. However, doing so may affect the operation of some Player features or prevent information from being displayed. The following Player features require an Internet connection and may rely on security zones and security settings in Internet Explorer to display or work properly:

•	Using online stores.
•	Finding, viewing, and updating media information, including album art and information about CDs and DVDs.
•	Acquiring media usage rights for protected files.
•	Downloading codecs, visualizations, portable device drivers, plug-ins, and skins.
•	Media usage rights for protected files may sometimes be obtained from webpages that contain items such as active content, scripts, or forms. These items are prevented from running on your computer by default. If you obtain media usage rights from a webpage that contains scripting or forms, however, these items may be allowed to run based on the security settings in Internet Explorer. Other features of the webpage, such as signed ActiveX controls, are prevented from running.

Lock icon in the Player status bar

Indicates whether websites are "secure" sites, which means they are set up to prevent unauthorized people from seeing the information that is sent to or from those sites. Because the Player supports the security protocols used by secure sites, you can send information from the Player to a secure site with confidence. When you visit a secure site, it automatically sends you its certificate, which is a statement verifying the identity of a person or the security of a site. In addition, a Lock icon is displayed on the Player status bar; you can click the icon to view the certificate. If you are about to send information such as your credit card number to a site that is not secure, the Player can warn you of this. If the site claims to be secure but its security credentials are suspect, the Player can warn you that the site might have been tampered with or might be misrepresenting itself.

NoteSome settings are controlled by Group Policy. If a setting is unavailable, contact your system administrator. For more information about Group Policy, see Windows Help and Support.