Blocking RealPlayer spyware + offline installation

[TSNH]

RealPlayer spyware blocking

Introduction

RealPlayer is a media player developed by RealNetworks, INC. It has some useful features like “toolbar mode” and jumping 10seconds forward and backwards, that VLC and WMP lack. Among other music and video formats, it can play proprietary “RealMedia” files. The suite also includes a Converter, video Trimmer and Downloader,  however the privacy policy is far from acceptable (assuming you don’t use Google Chrome on Windows 10 anyway ): https://realnetworks.com/privacy-policy

Preparations

Blocking spyware of media players is significantly easier than of for example web browsers, because you can just block them with firewall (I’m not going to bother with the Downloader at all here). The problem is that the setup program installs many bloat services, startup programs etc. This means that you will have to prepare a Windows 7+ virtual machine, to download and install Real Player.

 

Downloading offline installer

The is also no offline installer available by default, but there is a trick, that allows you to download it:

1.       Download the online installer from RealPlayer website (it is not larger than 2MB).

2.       Boot the virtual machine that you’ve prepared. Do not connect it to the internet yet.

3.       Transfer the installer to the VM.

4.       Start the installation inside the VM. It will say, this:

5.       Click retry a few times, until the window changes:

6.       Click Restart Download, it’s a link to the offline installer! (note, that its size is about 65MB)

7.       Connect the virtual machine to internet to complete the download

 

Installation

1.       Disconnect the virtual machine from the internet and run the offline installer.

2.       Click Accept, disable all checkboxes.

3.       Wait for the installation to finish.

4.       Close RealPlayer.

5.       Go to  ”C:\Program Files (x86)\Real” and copy folder called “RealPlayer” and paste it somewhere else (don’t copy other folders)

6.       Go to  ”C:\ProgramData\Real\RealPlayer” and copy folders called “Database” and “DeviceProfiles”. Paste them somewhere else (don’t copy other folders)

7.       Transfer the folder you’ve copied to your host PC and copy them respectively to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Real” and ”C:\ProgramData\Real\RealPlayer” of your host.

8.       In  “C:\Program Files (x86)\Real\ RealPlayer” remove “realupgrade.exe” and “Update” folder (auto update).

9.       Search for .exe files in “C:\Program Files (x86)\Real\ RealPlayer” and block internet access for all of them using firewall. You can use OneClickFirewall program or my exported rules to speed up the process.

10.     Launch realplay.exe. It will say, that is has to download something to complete the installation, but it’s not true. You can just click ok and the pop-up and it won’t show up again.

11.     Go to settings in the main menu.

12.     It’s recommended, that you change the default tab, when opening real player from discover screen (doesn’t work with no internet) to Library or NowPlaying.

13.     Disable all checkboxes in settings\connection\internet, settings\library\Mobile Access, settings\library\stories

14.     Congratulations, enjoy

 

What I’ve written above was tested with RealPlayer v20.1 and can be subject to changes.

Installation on Vista

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners and are used here for identification purposes only.

Edited June 4, 2022 by TSNH

[TSNH]

Firewall rules:

A program that I used was supposed to export firewall rules, but turned out to be completely broken, rules don't work, when applied on another computer

Work only if Real Player files are in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Real\ RealPlayer".

Copy the following text into notepad, save as .reg file, and than apply it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SharedAccess\Parameters\FirewallPolicy\FirewallRules]
"{A40D0E97-CC85-43CF-88E3-29155D0894AB}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rndevicedbbuilder.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-rndevicedbbuilder.exe-4a27809e65386ac11e61562d110a6f0a|"
"{1BA20854-7820-4B31-9659-EDA6689B67B7}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\fixrjb.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-fixrjb.exe-f8aa2462daf7031b9522a95bad8d4ae3|"
"{622B26F8-5151-4691-A075-CF63B2E8C4AE}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realtimes\rtcreator.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-rtcreator.exe-f2484ca477480949b2511db710bb50e8|"
"{9626BCFD-625E-4190-B8AC-05C2BC5F9F8B}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\convert.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-convert.exe-72bc4d46498cec1d9729d3463632b46b|"
"{BD77A230-D4AA-4647-8172-54B98D81B176}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\downloader2.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-downloader2.exe-288ce90f1df0ffd4fad2a087b7110848|"
"{53D367D8-124D-42A8-B700-353285932B4A}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realcleaner.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realcleaner.exe-b7eef18fa85f4efdd7ce22f560b46bcc|"
"{87C8627D-36D9-4074-88B9-E0AC1EFA2529}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realconverter.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realconverter.exe-35e19f8e272d56db24d97f57c74718bd|"
"{058AB96C-0C76-4156-A024-6C49BC84BEC4}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realdownloader264.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realdownloader264.exe-a20b0f8a06cabad5a9199ac4a4a3bdb8|"
"{F5CDB567-4420-4127-A973-90CCCD176950}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realtrimmer.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realtrimmer.exe-02c43052cb9b2dab2400095edc4df704|"
"{9846D706-045D-4CAB-B04C-9AEC80E7E59D}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\recordingmanager.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-recordingmanager.exe-96f531890d4095d838d860ebabc29663|"
"{10BCA082-81E2-4711-9087-C1CD68696B7F}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rpbgdownloader.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-rpbgdownloader.exe-7306372ae78a6e36455a515714b54805|"
"{0EBC561D-8722-4DFA-8547-355EB445463E}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\setup\setup.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-setup.exe-0e910a075ea57242766541a9cb148c40|"
"{3232071C-3F49-4963-BF67-7D7BC5D0CF0D}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\videodl.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-videodl.exe-74b24a0a573da5e4032a742b1dfca65c|"
"{248A9008-31B3-4698-8366-50361DBFF771}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\r1puninst.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-r1puninst.exe-0bfe077b6a85d6cc5e529ff1bdea6193|"
"{632F1444-3A8C-40FB-A0A8-3EA4DF5584FC}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\r1puninst.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-r1puninst.exe-0bfe077b6a85d6cc5e529ff1bdea6193|"
"{7FDCA08F-F62F-4657-BFD6-024BC58CD774}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\upgrdhlp.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-upgrdhlp.exe-516c28f2e0df614fae772b2283cf428a|"
"{1107F7B4-744B-4819-8F93-79E7C36C5916}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realjbox.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realjbox.exe-9155d28c1254bc6133cefbba5061aede|"
"{6E8C4773-A748-47B2-969A-3695A44E9333}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\realplay.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realplay.exe-e7017d7d9243a1eb7735330952d80515|"
"{F9670A25-E18C-449F-98AA-990E95E232FA}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rphelperapp.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-rphelperapp.exe-e4269391c9324bec03e96ff22355adf2|"
"{EE7BF5EC-F734-4FA1-9EE2-F06E372D4C14}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rpds\tools\ffmpeg\ffmpeg.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-ffmpeg.exe-cfe78a4600834b6dc1584448b1042092|"
"{AE528163-6337-4820-88DD-48206ADEA34F}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rpds\tools\ffmpeg\ffprobe.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-ffprobe.exe-418ffde50022761393f82c15cd6bdf44|"
"{A923517E-834A-4861-BF9E-26854FC030FC}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\rpds\tools\ffmpeg\segmenter.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-segmenter.exe-7b056d45223af20622aaec37b460de72|"
"{6FB1D2CA-6F28-45E2-95E5-8B4EE4EE4CA4}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\realonemessagecenter.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realonemessagecenter.exe-1fbb0b5e63f25326ee6b970e98076ff5|"
"{4C2AC775-094D-4942-B002-D95CDB03399F}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\realsched.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-realsched.exe-367e541f40786d4ad296b20df4a35d69|"
"{1CF46BD5-1B5C-4CFA-8F47-F195F86A670B}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\rnxproc.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-rnxproc.exe-e71fde75f034b129dd6f382205f86041|"
"{6E96E99E-01C8-460D-9A5E-C58517BF5D50}"="v2.10|Action=Block|Active=TRUE|Dir=Out|App=c:\program files (x86)\real\realplayer\update\r1puninst.exe|Name=OneClickFirewall-r1puninst.exe-0bfe077b6a85d6cc5e529ff1bdea6193|"

 

Edited June 8, 2022 by TSNH

[D.Draker]

Hi , excuse me , do you know if this player able to use hardware decoding of H265 8-bit (not 10bit) codec on Nvidia Titan ?

I wasn't able to find it so far . Thanks.

They only write about H264 and VC1.

https://filehippo.com/download_media-player-classic/?ex=BB-2350.2

 

[TSNH]

Quote

Hi , excuse me , do you know if this player able to use hardware decoding of H265 8-bit (not 10bit) codec on Nvidia Titan ?

I wasn't able to find it so far . Thanks.

They only write about H264 and VC1.

https://filehippo.com/download_media-player-classic/?ex=BB-2350.2

I've never used Media Player Classic so I don't know unfortunately.

[TSNH]

Installing RealPlayer 20 on Windows Vista

The most crucial difference between installing RealPlayer on Windows Vista and 7+ is that on Vista RealPlayer has to be installed using the official installer, not just copy-pasted from virtual machine. You can however install less-bloated RealPlayer version 16 and than replace its files with those from version 20. Most RealPlayer’s codecs don’t work, so you will have use external ones. Prepare RealPlayer 16 and 20 installers and a Windows 7+ virtual machine.

1.       Install Vista-compatible version of K-Lite or other codec pack

2.       Install RealPlayer 16 and go through the first run wizard.

3.       Go to services.msc, stop RealNetworks Downloader Resolver Service and set the startup mode to disabled.

4.       Go to msconfig, startup tab and disable TkBellexe (RealPlayer updater)

5.       Reboot your computer

6.       Rename “Real” folders in %programfiles(x86)% and %programdata% to Real16

7.       Install RealPlayer 20 as in the guide above.

8.       Rename RPDS folder in %programfiles(x86)%\Real\RealPlayer to something else. This will make RealPlayer use external codecs

9.       (Skip this point if you have 32-bit extended kernel installed) Prepare 32-bit extended kernel files (kernel32x86, ntextx86, ntk32, powrprofx86). Rename them to kernel86, ntext, ntk32, powrprof and copy to “%programfiles(x86)%\Real\RealPlayer”. Open realplay.exe In Cff explorer and change “kernel32” to “kernel86” in the “import directory”

10.   Edit RealPlayer settings as in the guide above.

11.   Congratulations, enjoy