To clarify...I didn't see if the file was an mp3 personally, I was not present until it was already too late....but my friend is pretty knowledgable about computers and downloading and if he thought he was getting the mp3, it would have presented itself as an mp3, I don't know what was attached to it. He downloads all the time, not me.
It just seems too big a coincidence that the second he hits the play button my computer goes tits up. He didn't want to admit it and I could tell he felt really bad, but after I thought about it, what better way for a label to get a little revenge, even if it was not "officially" released by them *wink wink*. They get someone outside the company to upload the files and teach people who are trying to get it for free a lesson.
All I can tell you is what happened. I can't say 100% it was that mp3, but there is no other explanation. I didn't have any cracked software on my machine.