Alden Bates' Weblog
Feigning normality since 1973
Sony Copy Protection installs spyware
Filed in: Music.
Normally I don't like promoting breaking the law, but if you want to hear a CD controlled by Sony's copy protection it's safer to download it from the Internet.
Via Antiwesley:
Sony, Rootkits and Digital Rights Management Gone Too Far
Using a Sony copy protected audio CD may install hidden software without your knowledge. Attempting to remove the software (which is extremely difficult) may result in the non-functioning of devices on your system. The installed software could easy be used by viruses and other attackers to hide files from antivirus software, allowing them to go undetected.
This is additionally surprising to me, as in October last year, Sony announced they were abandoning copy protection on their releases. I guess they changed their minds, huh?
On Amazon, the reviews for Van Zant's album are currently expressing their disgust. Sony have already released a patch to "unhide" the installed malware. But this doesn't change the fact that it's installed without the user's knowledge, and obviously if the user doesn't know it's there, they don't know they need a software pach. And I see nothing about them providing software to actually remove it.
See also: BBC News: Sony slated over anti-piracy CD, TechWeb: Security-spooked Users Slap Sony CD On Amazon.
Posted November 5, 2005 10:02 AM
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- Sony offer exchange program for rootkit CDs from Alden Bates' Weblog
As Boing Boing reported, Sony BMG has put in place a program to allow customers to exchange infected CDs with CDs without the rootkit crap on. Which is sorta sporting of them, but as I pointed out previously, Sony said... [Read More]
Tracked on November 20, 2005 10:20 AM
Comments
I can't believe that Sony would even try this kind of stunt... WTF were they thinking??? They should have known that someone will find it.. And when they do, there is going to be some bad press!
I'm really interested to see how this turns out.. I have a feeling that Sony will just end up forking out some cash to keep things quiet and have this blow over as soon as possible..
Posted by: Jay4DaTaste | November 11, 2005 1:22 PM
The way Sony is treating their customers is abominable. Pay full price for a CD and you get treated like a criminal.
Posted by: Alden Bates | November 11, 2005 1:53 PM
Yes, I have something called EAcceleration on my computer. It turns up in a spyware search, and Spybot S&D can't remove it. Anyone have any
ideas howe to shift the damn thing?
Posted by: Jeff Stone | November 5, 2005 10:29 PM