Is sharing media files safe on a smartphone

n-y-c · 12-27-2013, 04:45 PM

I have a smartphone with a feature to share media files via DLNA. Is this safe to do? Thanks

lleb · 12-27-2013, 06:04 PM

think about what you just asked. safe? how safe? do you mean safe to share your personal images, videos, etc... with any other smart device that has DLNA enabled and within proximity of your phone. do you mean safe as is not able to get infected with some kind of malware....

your question is very vague.

i personally disable my sharing as i have media that i can not get in others hands as im a notary and take pictures all the time of drivers licenses, mortgages, etc... i can not have those get out into the wild.

n-y-c · 12-27-2013, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lleb

do you mean safe as is not able to get infected with some kind of malware....

your question is very vague.

What I mean is can hackers get into my phone if file sharing is enabled. My router does have a firewall and uPnP is disable so outside connections to my phone should not happen, but not sure really.

Here is the scenario, my smartphone is full of media files and I want to play those media files on my tablet via DLNA. I could copy the file(s) over to the tablet, but I rather stream it to my tablet instead.

Anyway, If I do enable file sharing, it is only temporary and not intended to be on full time.

Thanks

frankbell · 12-27-2013, 08:46 PM

If you have good security (something like Lookout, for example), I doubt that using DLNA will increase your phone's vulnerability. Nevertheless, the DLNA was founded by Sony.

Sony's stellar privacy record is enough to make me shy of it.

n-y-c · 12-28-2013, 08:46 AM

Thanks Frank

I do have lookout as my main security app. Anyway, I decided not to use DLNA because I am not sure about it.

lleb · 12-28-2013, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n-y-c

Thanks Frank

I do have lookout as my main security app. Anyway, I decided not to use DLNA because I am not sure about it.

probably a wise choice.