Mobile Code -- RealAudio, too?

["Andreas Haug" <ajh () this net>]

Some weeks ago, I had a discussion with someone regarding the danger of
RealAudio (RA). I vaguely remembered (from a former life?) that RA files,
like QuickTime files, could include the code to decode the compressed data
back to wave form.

Unfortunately, I had no proof of this nor proof against it. Trying to sort
things out, I mailed Real inc.. They denied everything, at first, but upon
me insisting on the topic, I got the word that

        "It does not work that way anymore.  In fact it has not in a long time."

I tried to get more specific information on this, but haven't heared from
Real for some weeks.

Perhaps members of our humble group have more information or perhaps we
should start a discussion on the topic of unpublished data formats? Must I
block RealAudio at the firewall, or should I not?

Regards,

andreas.

P.S.: There are some firewalls which have RealAudio proxys. Is the "ship the
codec code with the sound" feature available in the streaming versions, too?
Do the proxys have the ability to strip codec code? Anyone knows?
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