Sony trashes your computer

[Helevitia]

No it doesn't. It just unhides it. So then you *know* you're rooted.

Do you have a link? I re-read the page where you download the "removal tool" and one sentence is suspect.

This Service Pack removes the cloaking technology component

It says it removes the cloaking technology but doesn't mention it removes the actual software. Are they one in the same?

[Wombat]

It removes the cloaking, as in "now you can see that the drivers in device manager have been hacked." But you still have hacked drivers and kernel.

Slashdot's been covering this thing for the past few days. The comments posted with the article are rather informative: http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/11/03...id=158&tid=206

[Wombat]

Has Sony made a statement on the issue? Link?

Sony isn't saying much, but First4Internet (who they bought the rootkit from) has said more: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/0,39020330,39235377,00.htm

[Helevitia]

I read that and it states that if you want to remove the software, you have to contact Sony Customer Support. How Lame.

[schmosef]

Thanks Wombat!

I find this issue fascinating.

I hope someone picks this up and runs with it. Sony's got no right to mess with device drivers. That's seriously not cool.

[KvHagedorn]

They can do anything they want to.. they are a large corporation. They can even come to your house, torture and murder you, and someone would just fine them 1/6000th of their profits for that month and they'd go on.

[schmosef]

You're right KvH, Sony is great!

What was I thinking?

[Jon P. Inghram]

All hail our Sony overlords!

[KeiFront]

Virus number 1: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/interne...eut/index.html
and number 2 offcourse : http://www.viruslist.com/en/weblog?weblogid=173731778

Many will probably follow .

[schmosef]

The software sparked a class action lawsuit against Sony in California last week, claiming that Sony has not informed consumers that it installs software directly into the "roots" of their computer systems with rootkit software, which cloaks all associated files and is dangerous to remove.

There's a rumour going around that Sony with implement DRM for the PS3, effectively killing the rental market and preventing game trading/reselling.

[Nowhere]

BTW, it seems there's also similar thing for OS X present in some number of Sony CDs. But on this system it is mentioned in EULA (who reads them anyway) and must be given administrator pass to install/play (so perhaps it should ring bells and whistles, when somebody sees it and reminds himself that normal CDs don't want pass...but then again, who am I kidding...)

[Dr Mordrid]

FLASH:

Sony pulls XCP CD protection software....

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -

Music publisher Sony BMG said on Friday it would stop making CDs that use a controversial technology to protect its music against illegal copying.

"As a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology," it said in a statement.

The decision follows the discovery on Thursday of the first virus that uses Sony BMG's CD copy-protection software to hide on PCs and wreak havoc.

Dr. Mordrid

[schmosef]

[Jammrock]

FLASH:

Sony pulls XCP CD protection software....


Dr. Mordrid

Because their asses are getting sued over it.

[Dr Mordrid]

Yup;

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27603

Dr. Mordrid