Sony installs a rootkit...

[pam123]

I'd say they had to be joking but apparently not : http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/01/sony_rootkit_drm/

[David M]

Given I know nothing about roots... Does this get installed by playing a Sony CD in my optical drive? If not, then how does it get installed onto my computer?

[pam123]

Sony packages it's own media player with the cd.
You have no choice but to install it if you want to play the cd.
The article has links to the full piece.

[David M]

Well...looks like I won't be purchasing any more Sony CD's then. Too bad for them cause I love playing CD's in my optical drive while online. :)

I think this will backfire and encourage people to steal Sony material off the internet.

Consumers can play nasty as well.

Just thinking about it, I have lost respect for Sony over the years. Ever go into their website?...its a complex web of disorganization. Ever try to find a driver in their website without surfing forever for it? Sony's products are overpriced for what you get. Their TV's are no longer the best...Samsung beat them at that game. And now Sony has the arrogance to do this? When was the last time Sony came out with an original innovation, other than this rootkit? Seems Sony is living off it's past reputaton...It's a very similar situation to Symantec/Norton. What happened to Sony? They used to be very innovative and make really good stuff. Remember how hot an item the Walkman was? The Trinitron? Maybe they might do better by spending more on R&D and less on methods to protect their intellectual property?

[doctorgonzo]

The worst thing about this crap from Sony is that they aren't doing it to protect the artists from piracy. They are doing it to piss off Apple (http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2005/10/drm_crippled_cd.html). Some artists whose CDs have been "protected" by this junk weren't even aware that Sony did it.

[Dominion]

http://www.europe.f-secure.com/v-descs/xcp_drm.shtml

Just to make it official.

This page does not state how it can junk your windows installation when you try to remove. So have to wait for more confirmation on that.

I think its only a matter of time before a 'proof of method' virus is released just to show it can be done. If not an actual virus getting released.

Hate to say it but the pirate networks with DRM free, non-lossy format and virus free look very desirable for music right now lol.

EDIT***

http://www.f-secure.com/weblog/#00000691

If you read the blog it warns you not to use F-secure products to remove the rootkit - think that is enough proof to assume its junks your PC.

[pam123]

The worst thing about this crap from Sony is that they aren't doing it to protect the artists from piracy. They are doing it to piss off Apple (http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2005/10/drm_crippled_cd.html). Some artists whose CDs have been "protected" by this junk weren't even aware that Sony did it.

Totally , incredibly, beggars the imagination, utter stupidity on Sony's part.
If you had any doubts about where musicians and the buyer of music rank with Sony it should be cleared up now.
And here I thought I was just angry about the rootkit.
Nice post doctorgonzo.

[David M]

On the other side of the equation, it seems artists need to stop signing contracts with companies who do DRM if they are that ticked off about it.

[Hi Ho]

Just thinking about it, I have lost respect for Sony over the years. Ever go into their website?...its a complex web of disorganization. Ever try to find a driver in their website without surfing forever for it? Sony's products are overpriced for what you get. Their TV's are no longer the best...Samsung beat them at that game. And now Sony has the arrogance to do this? When was the last time Sony came out with an original innovation, other than this rootkit? Seems Sony is living off it's past reputaton...It's a very similar situation to Symantec/Norton. What happened to Sony? They used to be very innovative and make really good stuff. Remember how hot an item the Walkman was? The Trinitron? Maybe they might do better by spending more on R&D and less on methods to protect their intellectual property?

The more time moves on the more I tend to despise Sony. I have never been a fan of Sony products due to the proprietory and over priced technologies that they attempt to force on consumers (I.E. MemoryStick, ATRAC, etc.) and the overall premium they charge for the little Sony symbol. I think this is the last straw. I won't be purchasing any Sony products at all (the only Sony product I have is a portable CD player, it has been a good player).

I agree with you David M. I have a friend that owns an electronics shop. He has worked on thousands of TV's. According to him, Sony is far and away the worst when it comes to TV reliability. Sanyo (yes, Sanyo) has been the best by far. The Consumer Reports ratings show the same.

I never use a CD player to play CD's. As soon as I get a CD I rip it to my hard drive using WMP. With Sony's malware that wouldn't be possible.