The CyberLink Spark Media Server is a network service. It allows other computers on your network to see the media on your system, depending on how you have to the media server set up.
Of course, I have no idea HOW to set CyberLink's Media Server up, given that they don't even tell you they're installing it, and provide scant data about it at all.
Whether or not it's a security risk depends on what access you want other systems to have.
If you're asking if it's malware, then, no, it's not inherently dangerous in that sense. It won't be sending information outside of your local network. (Or, at least, it shouldn't.)
However, it may give those on your
local network access to your media, such as pictures and movies, depending on how it's configured, which I don't know.
I've personally disabled it, not because I think it's dangerous, but because I don't need it, so all it does is use resources.
If you don't need it (and, if you don't know what it is, then you don't need it!
) then I would disable it. You can do so by doing the following (This assumes you have administrator privileges on your system):
1. Go to your Start Menu, and in the search box at the bottom, type: services.msc and hit Return.
2. The Services list will pop up. Go down the list and find the two services labeled:
CyberLink PowerDVD 11.0 Monitor Service
CyberLink PowerDVD 11.0 Service
3. For each one in succession, select "Properties" and do the following.
4. At the bottom of the Properties dialog, where it says "Service status:", select "Stop". Wait for it to return.
5. In the middle of the Properties dialog box, where it says "Startup type:", select the pulldown menu, and select "Disable".
6. Hit "OK".
After you've done this for each of the two services, the Media Server will be stopped and will not start again!
If you decide you DO want to use the server, go back into the properties of each server, select "Automatic" from the pulldown, and hit Start, and then OK. That will enable them again.
Hope this helps! :
-geo
Edit (2011/08/14): It seems that, every time you install an update for PowerDVD, these two services get re-enabled. Yet
another slimy practice by CyberLink. If you've disabled a service, they shouldn't re-enable it,
especially without asking for your permission first! Or, at the very least informing you that the services have been re-enabled. CyberLink seems to be completely unconcerned with informing their customers about what changes are being made with their installations. Adding software that isn't listed, isn't announced, and isn't documented
anywhere is, in my opinion, unethical at best.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at Aug 15. 2011 02:16