Lex Fridman

Like YouTube is basically the web version of VLC.

Okay, there's this legendary story that you pointed me to that it was discovered via WikiLeaks release of all seven documents the CIA was using a modified version of VLC to basically try and trick people, what, to steal their data?

Yes, exactly.

So can you explain what the heck happened with...

VideoLand wrote a press release saying the only safe source for getting VLC media player is the official VideoLand website.

I mean, I suppose that's a security vulnerability for basically any piece of open source software.

Yeah, I think people should, for all open source software, for all software in general, people should pay attention to where they download the thing.

Yes, because that means that they were not downloading it from our website.

Do the search engines help you?

Just to clarify, because you can, you know, to prevent threats from people manipulating SEO to get up there on the links.

It's actually quite surprisingly effective.

Whoever is doing it with Twitter and X with X, I'll get emails about your X account has been hacked.

And however they phrase it, it gets me to like at least click on the email not to follow the thing.

And then you're like, man, whatever they're doing with the psychology to try to trick you, they're quite good.

So make sure wherever you're downloading stuff, it's legitimate.

I'm part of the botnet.

Speaking of which, so you've mentioned that VLC sandboxing is something you're working on, and it's actually something quite challenging.

Why is it important?

Why is it hard?

So VLC is...