Sony makes the case for piracy

Sort of -- with their root kit

http://news.com.com/FAQ+Sonys+rootkit+CDs/2100-1029_3-5946760.html?tag=nefd.top
from WinCustomize Forums

Recently, Sony was discovered to have been installing software on people's computers without the user knowing it.  When a user inserted a Sony CD into their computer CD-ROM drive, a "root kit" was installed that enabled the music giant to install "copy protection" without the user knowing.

Some spyware developers and trojan horse virus makers have already begun to make use of Sony's root kit to hide their presence on the user's machine.

Some users of argued that this plays right into the hands of pirates.  This issue was discussed last week on PowerUser.TV at length.  Why be legitimate in acquiring music if you're going to be treated like a criminal when it's so much easier to simply warez it was what many have said on-line.

CNET has an excellent follow-up on the situation.  Check it out.

20,222 views 45 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is THE reason why I NEVER buy Sony products of any kind - their DVD players are the most restrictive in the business. Buy anything from them that has anything to do with duplication at your own risk....
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sony products of any kind - their DVD players are the most restrictive in the business. Buy anything from them that has anything to do with duplication at your own risk...


Yea, it is rather frustrating when you find out that your self-made Graduation-movie won't play on any other player but your (Sony)DVD-burner. So much for sending it out to your relatives!!

.....grrrrr, no more Sony for me!

As for the rootkit story. As someone who has so far never ever downloaded illegal MP3 files; it made me seriously consider it as an alternative to having a piece of illegal software installed that will prevent me from making a backup copy for my car (so it doesn't matter if it gets fried in the sun) or transferring my music to other formats/players.

Posted via WinCustomize Browser/Stardock Central
Siege of Centauri
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I think it should be illegal to put software on someone's computer without their knowledge. Heck, it probably is illegal if someone brings them to court for privacy violations... I know a law won't prevent most sites from trying to install spyware but at least it would hold major corporation like sony who do such things accountable.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Sony has long felt the need to use proprietary standards.
I loved the concept of the Mini Disc...I actually owned one before I owned an iPod, but I was frustrated with their need for a proprietary coded (the ATRAC standard sucks...made my music sound like crap), and you had to use THEIR software to install it.

We could sit here all day and list all of Sony's proprietary formats...ATRAC, Memory Stick, UMD, Mini Disc, just for starters.

One would hope that someone at Sony would learn something from all this, but they won't. They'll just wait until the storm blows over and come up with another stupid, pointless proprietary format or rootkit, because they believe (IMHO) they are better than other manufacturers...and they can do whatever they want.
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm all for protecting one's intellectual property, but this, in my opinion, is far over the line.

From the CNet article:
Can I uninstall it?

Even if you could find the hidden copy protection components yourself, computer experts warn against trying to uninstall it without help. Trying to do remove it without official instructions could damage the computer, rendering the CD drive inoperable.

Sony's Web site has a downloadable patch which will remove the ability of the copy protection software to hide from view, but will not uninstall it.

To uninstall the software completely, a user must fill out a separate customer service form on Sony's Web site, asking for instructions on how to uninstall the rootkit software.


That sounds like malicious software to me, no matter its creator's intention, no matter whether a cryptic pop-up dialog got permission to originally install it.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Sony could be in deep poo over this, unless there is a very clear disclaimer bundled with each and every Sony disc explaining the actual damage potential to a user's property.

A class-action suit by all those whose computers have been 'infected' would see Sony pulling their heads in.

I simply won't be buying Sony discs....

If everyone voted with his feet it'd be poetic justice.

It's not as if it totally prevents copying, either....that's easy...[I'll leave you to work it out yourselves]...

Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Found this on a technet blog site from a member of MS Anti-Malware Technology Team..

We have analyzed this software, and have determined that in order to help protect our customers we will add a detection and removal signature for the rootkit component of the XCP software to the Windows AntiSpyware beta, which is currently used by millions of users. This signature will be available to current beta users through the normal Windows AntiSpyware beta signature update process, which has been providing weekly signature updates for almost a year now. Detection and removal of this rootkit component will also appear in Windows Defender when its first public beta is available. We also plan to include this signature in the December monthly update to the Malicious Software Removal Tool. It will also be included in the signature set for the online scanner on Windows Live Safety Center.

Read Full Story Here:
Link

If true.. Great News.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Malicious Software

Well...that's what it is...so it's only appropriate that it's detected and removed by a 'good Malware tool'...

Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Looks like Sony has some lawsuites coming their way.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
In case you missed it, it looks like a second piece of malware is installed.

According to this Link
from Boing Boing, a blogger at Freedom to Tinker found another piece of spyware, courtesy from a company called SunnComm. Link

BoingBoing posted this summary:

* Is installed onto the computer without meaningful notification or consent, and remains installed even if the license agreement is declined;
* Includes either no uninstall mechanism or an uninstaller that fails to completely remove the program like it claims;
* Sends information to SunnComm about the user's activities contrary to SunnComm and Sony statements and without any option to disable the transmissions.


Man, Sony is in deep poodoo...
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
The lawsuits have begun: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20051110-5549.html

It has also been posted that the Sony DRM can be defeated by simply renaming the executable and placing $sys$ in front of the name.
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Even the Department of Homeland Security took a shot at Sony. http://www.mp3newswire.net/stories/5002/admonish.html

Quote: "It's very important to remember that it's your intellectual property -- it's not your computer. And in the pursuit of protection of intellectual property, it's important not to defeat or undermine the security measures that people need to adopt in these days." Stewart Baker, DoHS Assistant Secretary of Policy.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
AND ALL THIS HAS "WHAT" TO DO WITH SKINNING.
This sort of stuff should be on the BLOG site, not here!!!!
Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
pssst: the original post was by the OWNER of this site. I think that means it's OK.
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Don't know if you have noticed Alpha but we all talk about a lot of things that are not skinning related here on WC.
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
AND ALL THIS HAS "WHAT" TO DO WITH SKINNING.
This sort of stuff should be on the BLOG site, not here!!!!



skinner like music
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
music=good.....
malicious PC killing spyware= bad
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This is THE reason why I NEVER buy Sony products of any kind - their DVD players are the most restrictive in the business. Buy anything from them that has anything to do with duplication at your own risk....


i just bought a sony DVD player/writer. ive burnt my home movies of Christmas and such to DVD with no problems at all ...but i will let yas know if i do experience any issues
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
HG Eliminator, I have a Sony 5 Disc platter DVD player my sister bought me for Xmas 4 years ago.....it was THE Flagship player at the time - excellent picture on my Zenith 35" CRT....I don't care what they say about 480 lines of resolution, that baby is sharp & clear & I love it!! However, playing anything on it other than something that's "Region 1 coded" is a mess...the player skips every chapter a few seconds into the disc; I ended up buying a no-name generic brand at BestBuy for about $41 U.S. - it will play anything & I mean ANYTHING that's on a DVD disc & looks great. I have two Pioneer DVD/CD-Rom player/writers that I bought when building my new computer system - they burn just about anything to disc without any of the spyware/rootkits you've read mentioned above in most of the posts here. Hope you enjoy your writer & hope it works for you, but like I said: buy at your own risk - to each his own
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
thanks for the compliment george ..

I appreciate the info on your dealings with sonys DVD players..i dont do much DVD stuff except transfering my home movies of christmas and such holidays to DVD ..i believe all my DVDs are region 1 so im not really worried abt that...the installer for the DVD's drivers showed no rootkit stuff and ive checked the system useing the methods shown in the links above.im clean...
i think its limited to those music disc's they list...i will however keep an eagle eye on this topic as it unfolds.

it's sad that the music industry feels the need to invade our homes and risk destroying our pc's to deter piracy.
IMO this kind of invasion "which exactly what it is" .. is criminal..

from reading what i have i will not buy any music on a Sony label... ever..

the trust has been broken before it ever got a chance to be established..
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Aahhh, still more hot water for Sony: http://dewinter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=215

It looks like some of the code in their DRM/Rootkit was licensed under a version of the GPL, and Sony hasn't complied with the terms of the license.

Makes me want to mod the old PS2 even more. http://www.psxtune.com/psx2/index.html
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It looks like some of the code in their DRM/Rootkit was licensed under a version of the GPL, and Sony hasn't complied with the terms of the license.

Oh, goodie....

Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmm ....Did Sony became a pirate ? talk abt a pot calling the kettle black...