Frogboy Frogboy

Sony makes the case for piracy

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

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.

20,223 views 45 replies
Reply #26 Top
tjesterb,

Aahhh, still more hot water for Sony: http://dewinter.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=215 Link

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 Link


Personally, I think you are a FOOL, or should I say child, and I can't say much for "Admin Jafo" either.
You people who are suddenly against sony really do have a problem.
I own SONY products and they perform perfectly for my needs. It's seems to me you really have problems.
Also as far the
pssst: the original post was by the OWNER of this site. I think that means it's OK.

I THINK NOT. I don't care if he is the owner of this site, I am a Wincutomize subscriber, Contributor to a SKINNING SITE.
ISN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A SKINNING SITE???
ALL the crap about the use of bandwidth, what a joke.
Reply #27 Top
Alpha, please, it is not your place (so to speak) to judge what should be 'news' and what should not be. Although we appreciate you standing up for the 'Skinner's Hangount' sort of mentality here, its really a fact of 'news is news' and the big stories that involve technology are free to be posted here. And in the end, by the way, since it IS Frogboy's site, he can post what he likes on it.

Best plan.... lets just try to be a little less 'reactive' to things people say, and just accept that this is the news that is posted. Cant do much now.
Reply #28 Top
its really a fact of 'news is news' and the big stories that involve technology are free to be posted here.


And being that so many of us use, or are affected by these technologies to some degree, Frogboy is doing us all a favour by bringing the issues to our attention.......keep 'em coming Brad.
Reply #29 Top
Could this be a sign?
Playstation 3 Vs. XBOX 360?


As for this being a skinning ite... do you remember or did you forget, most people on here are into technology. Yuo would have to be if your tricking out your computer. Skinning started and is based on knowing something about your computer and how it works.

Soooooo... the connection of this Sony issue is made clear. This is a skinning site, but it is also about technology at its core and inpiticualr SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT; please deal.


Sony makes good products, obviously, but this situation should call for many people to suddenly be against Sony mush like many people were against Black and Decker, Tylenol and othr companies to do good thing and make good products but then do something that only amounts to pure follishness.

This rootkit thing and installing software EVEN IF YOU REJECT THE AGREEMENT is something to be upset about; don't you think alpha-omega?

Would you like to play something on your DVD drive or CD drive and it just not work?

Funny about all this lawsuit stuff... he only ones who will get any money are the original filers (and it will likly be small) and the lawyers. Now that is something to be upset about but reasonabily slitting 10 million dollars 500,000 ways will only get you so much anyway.
Reply #30 Top

THINK NOT. I don't care if he is the owner of this site, I am a Wincutomize subscriber, Contributor to a SKINNING SITE.
ISN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A SKINNING SITE???
ALL the crap about the use of bandwidth, what a joke.

Contribute by being pro-active, not militant/obstructionist.  When you foot the whole bill for this 'crap...bandwidth' then you may deserve to be heard.  In the meantime, behave....quietly...

Reply #31 Top
AND ALL THIS HAS "WHAT" TO DO WITH SKINNING.
This sort of stuff should be on the BLOG site, not here!!!!

This is a community site. And I don't see that harm of information, espesially regaring privacy issues. And it's not like there is that much "skinning news" that gets surpressed by having "non skinning news".
Reply #32 Top
I think this Bash quote sums it up: Link

A little juvenile but funny nonetheless
Reply #33 Top
Awesome quote! Thanks for the link.
Reply #34 Top
Personally, I think you are a FOOL, or should I say child, and I can't say much for "Admin Jafo" either.You people who are suddenly against Sony really do have a problem.I own SONY products and they perform perfectly for my needs. It's seems to me you really have problems.Also as far the


Personally, I think you should be ashamed of yourself. As usual a person who has nothing good to say relies on name calling. So Sony works good for you, who cares. Many people have The Sony PlayStation and probably a PSP but they can still think that Sony sucks. And perhaps you should pay more attention to the replies before you make a fool of yourself as well. Most people spoke of burning or recording hardware and software from Sony. You can't argue with people who have had problems with a particular brand just because you haven't. So maybe you should realise what you posted and reconsider who's the real child on this site.

I THINK NOT. I don't care if he is the owner of this site, I am a Wincutomize subscriber, Contributor to a SKINNING SITE.ISN'T THIS SUPPOSED TO BE A SKINNING SITE???ALL the crap about the use of bandwidth, what a joke.


Earth to Alpha-omega, come down from those clouds you like so much. Not ur site, not your decision. Just because you paid doesn't mean you have power on this site. Grow up. How the hell do people like you learn to us computers and make it to sites like this one? I would have figured you would need a brain for that but I guess I was wrong.

Sorry if I got out of hand but his stupidity is just so extraordinary I couldn't resist.
Reply #35 Top
Oh yea, I don't like Sony much. I try to avoid companies who try to impose their own software and hardware and not let you use alternatives and who also think they are above everything. Specially if there are alternatives.
Reply #36 Top
...
PS3 Vs. XBOX 360...

think about it...
lol
Reply #37 Top
How the hell do people like you learn to us computers and make it to sites like this one? I would have figured you would need a brain for that but I guess I was wrong.



All I can say to that is, WHAT A DORK.
I have been into computers for many many years, probably a lot longer than you.
I build computers and repair them as my real trade is a Technician.
Don't insult my intelligence.

In the meantime, behave....quietly..


Admin Jafo, so typical from you.
Reply #38 Top
alpha-omega, this isn't some Democratic site. This is a dictator-controlled site. We have freedom of speech here only on grant from our tyrant, Frogboy.

Basically, he owns this site and can do whatever he wants to it, including just scrapping it and use servers to play Warcraft or something.

Sony sure makes good hardware, but I'm sure this scandal will hard Sony hard, very hard. If it's bad enough, it will permanently weaken Sony. Good, since we don't need companies that do stuff like that.
Reply #39 Top
Alpha, no one is insisting you read this thread. What's so difficult about ignoring it? How long you've been using, building and repairing computers has no relevance to your arguement and even less to the topic of the thread.

/me knows better than to feed the trolls.
Reply #41 Top
/me knows better than to feed the trolls.




iTrolls not Trolls
Reply #42 Top
Link

Freedom to Tinker is posting that the web-based uninstaller Sony has provided can, under certain circumstances, open a bigger security hole!

They're working on providing a demonstration.
Reply #43 Top
The call is being made http://www.wired.com/news/digiwood/0,1412,69559,00.html?tw=rss.TOP to boycott Sony, at least as far as CD purchases.
I find it ironic that twenty years ago, it was the Sony Betamax that was the new technology that was terrifying the movie studios, to the extent that the case was heard by the Supreme Court, who ruled in favor of the new technology.
Now, Sony is in the music, movie, and gaming market, both as a producer of hardware, and as a content provider.
Now the are the terrified ones. Along with their buddies in the RIAA and MPAA, they are lobbying our elected leaders (at least in the US) to change the laws to protect their business model, a model that many say is outdated in the age of digital content.
The lengths that Sony and their bedfellows will go to shows just how much respect they have for the consumer. None.
Somewhere Music/Movie Studio/Sony execs are wetting their pants with excitement at the prospect of milking the buying public out of a charge every time comeone wants to listen to a song or movie they have already purchased. And if you don't like it, why they can always sue you with their little army of salivating lawyers.
These movie/music execs have been painting their own customers as "pirates" and criminals, using the courts as the means to carry out their bullying tactics.
It looks like their tactics are backfiring on them. Let's hope that it sends a clear message, if not the Sony and their kind, then at least to our legislators.
Reply #44 Top
Sony gave in. They are now recalling all the CD's containing the root kit software. http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,1282,69590,00.html?tw=rss.TOP
Reply #45 Top

"Sony BMG last week was targeted in a class action lawsuit complaining that it had not disclosed the true nature of its copy-protection software."

And I was expecting that....again the little guy can 'win'....

Let's hope Sony's next try is a wee bit more diplomatic...