Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far

[PsiKik]

This is shocking. Sony has a new copy protection system that uses malware tactics, takes over your computer, exposes it to potential compromise and system failure.





Last week when I was testing the latest version of RootkitRevealer (http://www.sysinternals.com/utilities/rootkitrevealer.html) (RKR) I ran a scan on one of my systems and was shocked to see evidence of a rootkit. Rootkits are cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other system objects from diagnostic and security software, and they are usually employed by malware attempting to keep their implementation hidden (see my “Unearthing Rootkits” (http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/ArticleID/46266/46266.html?Ad=1) article from thre June issue of Windows IT Pro Magazine for more information on rootkits). The RKR results window reported a hidden directory, several hidden device drivers, and a hidden application:

From the BBC
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4400148.stm

This article is fairly technical, how the malware was uncovered.
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

[MacGuffin]

Yeah, I read about that last night and posted it on my blog.

Fuckin Sony!

[2ds]

Yeah I was supprised by this, I fail to see how this could be legal AND I would think sony would be liable considering it apparantly opens up securityholes in peoples computers.

I hope someone's computer gets rooted and does something bad and sony is found liable =D

-2ds

[PlayerOfGames]

Well, if anyone calls them on it I'm sure the response will be "Think of the starving artists! We're doing it for them!"

[Architectonic]

Well, if anyone calls them on it I'm sure the response will be "Think of the starving artists! We're doing it for them!"

LOL

Many of those 'starving' (everyday) artists actually support music sharing anyway....

[PiccoloNamek]

Damn Sony. And I just bought a very expensive pair of their headphones today too. Perhaps they didn't deserve that money.

[misutii]

Damn Sony. And I just bought a very expensive pair of their headphones today too. Perhaps they didn't deserve that money.

nah sony is quality. i've been carting around a 12 year-old trinitron to different appartments while at school and it still works good as new, not to mention having a s-video plug

just dont buy cds/dvds

[PsiKik]

This article is very interesting. Sheds some light on Sonys paranoia.



What's changed since the original Walkman debuted is that Sony became the only conglomerate to be in both consumer electronics and entertainment. As a result, it's conflicted: Sony's electronics side needs to let customers move files around effortlessly, but its entertainment side wants to build in restraints, because it sees every customer as a potential thief.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/sony.html

[Architectonic]

This article is very interesting. Sheds some light on Sonys paranoia.


http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/11.02/sony.html


I've thought about that before, in fact today I was explaining to someone why Sony should sue themselves.

[MacGuffin]

After Criticism, Sony Issues Fix for Hidden Rootkits (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20051103/tc_nf/39083)

[PlayerOfGames]

After Criticism, Sony Issues Fix for Hidden Rootkits (http://news.yahoo.com/s/nf/20051103/tc_nf/39083)

I find this to be so completely not ok. The people who made this decision should be arrested, because they broke the law. The only reason they aren't is because these actions were taken by a big multinational. It sickens me.

[Architectonic]

The ironic thing is Sony themselves have violated copyright by illegally using third party code:
http://www.hydrogenaudio.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=38700&hl=

[Snowflake]

nah sony is quality. i've been carting around a 12 year-old trinitron to different appartments while at school and it still works good as new, not to mention having a s-video plug

Only some of Sony's products are decent. There has been plenty of bullshit from them.

[HackerX]

Damn Sony. And I just bought a very expensive pair of their headphones today too. Perhaps they didn't deserve that money.

Sony hardware and Sony Music are basically two different companies under the same Sony label, so I wouldn't worry too much. I think I even remember reading somewhere about Sony Music trying to sue the sony hardware guys over something :|

[krakt]

Sony may have violated copyright law...
Not only by horribly violating consumer trust but also for plagiarzing LGPL software...

lol
:whistle:

http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1895259,00.asp (http://http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1895259,00.asp)