SONY to "rootkit" your PC

[John Holotko]

In order to prevent you from stealing music the good folks at SONY have come up with a great way to protect you from copying the CD's that you bought. By installing hidden rootkits on your computer.

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051101-5514.html

[w3jn]

I frigging HATE Sony.  Everything  with them is CONTROL.  Can't use anything industry standard with them, you gotta buy their batteries, THEIR proprietary interfaces, THEIR stupid memory sticks, etc.

[John Holotko]

http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

That's some fascinating reading. Thatguy did some pretty cool Windows detective work in idnetifying the source of the rootkit. Oh yeah, I know Sony might not call it a rootkit but that's pretty much what it is. A program(s) that cloaks it's installation from normal user tools as well as hides it's processes from appearing in the normal process table. Sony can call it DRM or whatever  they like but that's called a ROOTKIT.  The fact that a so called "legitimate" company like Sony would resort to using such unfriendly, malicious, and potentially damagiing software is apalling. And they are apparently going to be sued.

[W1RKW]

This just appeared on CNN.  It appears virus makers  have taken advantage of this situation already.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/11/10/sony.hack.reut/index.html

[Vortex Joe - N3IBX]

I frigging HATE Sony.  Everything  with them is CONTROL.  Can't use anything industry standard with them, you gotta buy their batteries, THEIR proprietary interfaces, THEIR stupid memory sticks, etc.

Johnny,
          Your darn tootin! Remember their "Betamax" video system? It was actually better than VHS but eventually went the way of the 78RPM record and laser disc!

Regards,
           Joe N3IBX

[John Holotko]

SONY  should be sued and be required to pay for the damages they have caused  by rooting unsuspecting consumers machines. SONY has literally created a nightmare for systems and network administrators. They have literally taken peoples properly functioning computers and made them vulnerable to security exploits and hacks. Thats kind of like coming to someones home and breaking the locks to make the home vulnerable to burglars. This  is really absurd.

[W1UJR]

You know, this is why I love Apple's iTunes.
It runs on multiple computers, is portable, no nasty hidden stuff, works like a charm, and above all is simple to use.
Is it any wonder that the iPods have cleaned up on the digital music front?

Sony, a great company in the 80s to the early 90s could take a page from the Apple playbook.
Sony even discontinued the great 2010 SW receiver, clearly that's a company off track.