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Thread: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

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    Default Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Do you have a Sony Computer or have you bought/played any Sony music discs or BMG discs?
    They have been found to install NON-removable spyware on your computer.
    NOTE to Mods: I checked this out, it has been reported several mainstream places such as the AP and UK Guardian, so I think it is very solid.
    After being caught out by a researcher, Sony has admitted to planting a secret, invisible digital rights management tool on PCs when they play Sony CDs, a bit of malware that can't be removed without damaging host computers.
    Quote from a friend who sent me the info:
    For years now, copy-restriction software has been a looming threat to those who purchase music and want to make fair uses, such as space-shifting it from one device or computer to another. Fortunately, early versions of the software were so cumbersome and easy to work around that consumers whole-heartedly rejected or bypassed them. Recently, however, at least one record label has stepped up the war for control of digital content by drawing from the playbook of spyware companies and virus-writers.
    Using a program called a rootkit, inserting a Sony BMG music CD will now infect your computer with a nefarious program, burying it deeply and obscurely within your operating system. The program will monitor your computer activity in the name of preventing the so-called "epidemic of piracy" that results from people making extra copies of their music CDs or favorite songs. Worse yet, there is no "uninstall" feature on this program. It's like the roach motel -- once Sony BMG's surveillance program checks in, you can't make it check out without completely wiping your entire system clean. Such practices have been widely condemned in the computer world, even by Microsoft's own research division.
    Outrage from computer users and music fans has sparked Sony BMG into offering a program on its website that will show you if you have been infected with the rootkit. However, while you can see the program running, you still can't uninstall it, and some security experts believe installing the "update" may even infect your computer with more unwanted files.
    While it is debatable whether copy-restriction software can even prevent serious illegal copying to begin with, there should be no question that invading our computers and infecting our systems should be off-limits. Unfortunately, the law is unclear on the exact rights users have to keep programs like Sony's rootkit off your computer when you purchase their CDs or click on a random "I Agree" button that might appear during an installation process. Until the law clarifies that We the Consumer actually hold the rights and keys to our computers, spyware companies, virus-makers, and now even entertainment conglomerates will be the ones dictating what we can and cannot do in the privacy of our own homes with the equipment and content we have lawfully purchased. Left unchecked, they will continue using our own computers against us to enforce their will and whims over our personal freedoms and behavior.
    Entertainment companies often complain that computer users refuse to respect their intellectual property rights. Yet tools like Sony's rootkit refuse to respect our own personal property and privacy rights. Such hypocrisy should not stand.
    Note: According to Princeton University CS Prof. Ed Felten, if you're using a recent version of Windows, you can protect yourself against this type of software, and some other security risks, by disabling autorun.
    More on the Sony rootkit:
    http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/20...tal-rights.html
    More on the Sony response:
    http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c.../f160614S41.DTL
    More on Ed Felten's suggestions:
    http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=920
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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    I've heard about this. It's legit. Thanks for the post, LilDreamer.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Another closed thread mentioned the Sony guy saying "why should people care?"

    This is why:



    Analise writes "The Register reports on the . A newly discovered makes use of the way Sony's rootkit masks files whose filenames begin with '$sys$'. This means that any files renamed this way by the trojan are effectively invisible to the average user. The malware is distributed via an email supposedly from a reputable business magazing requesting that the businessperson verify his/her attached 'picture' to be used for an upcoming issue. Once the payload is executed, the trojan then installs an IRC backdoor on affected Windows systems."

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Jesus! I'm almost ready to be done with PC's completely!

    What's going to be next in the Spyware line? Pc programs that take over your electric lines in your house, and changing your cable channels w/o your knowledge to promote "higher learning"?
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Class action lawsuit brought against them

    Spokesman for sony quoted in an interview saying "Most people don't even know what a DRM is or how it works. Why should people care about something they don't know about" or something like that.

    Baaadddd move.
    People are not ruled by their memories.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    I think I'll write a nice long letter to Sony telling them to fuck off. I'll even include all of my sony music with it...discs broken, of course, and just write it off on my taxes as "loss by theft".

    Bastards.

    Thank god I don't buy music like I used to.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    M$ is considering posting a patch to repair this problem.
    Idealism is fine, but as it approaches reality, the costs become prohibitive.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Quote Originally Posted by Casual Observer
    M$ is considering posting a patch to repair this problem.
    I think I just got spyware from that nasty fake Jenna Jameson page. This crap is spreading like custy flu.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Here is a link to a transcript from "Security Now," wherein a major corporation behaving like a technically savvy, unruly teenager is discussed. You can also download either or high- or low-quality MP3 of their discussion here if you want to listen to their discussion on your computer or MP3 player

    http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-012.htm

    I listened to Leo Laporte talk about this on the radio last weenend, and I think he said it wastes something near an average of 8 cycles per second on your computer. I'm not sure I heard this right, though, but if it is close to correct, I wonder if it's possible to do the following

    Set up an LLC as a one-person business to rent computer cycles on your computer. Charge one cent per cycle. However, there will be a base surcharge of $10,000 when the cycles being "burned" are being burned by software installed on your computer which intentionally "hides" itself.

    So, $0.01 sec x 8 x 60 secs = $4.80/min x 60 min = $288/hour x 24 hours = $6,912/day x 7 days = $48,384 per week x 4 weeks = $193,536/month if the computer is left on 24/7. So bill them monthly. I never bought one of the malware-installing Sony CDs. So I couldn't do this...but if there are, for example, 10,000 people who could, it might actually run into some real money for Sony! Then they'd have to reconsider before following this type of a policy in the future.

    But the court system in the U.S. will probably not side with the consumers, so this is only a pipedream.
    Last edited by PhaedrusZ; 11-12-2005 at 06:39 AM.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    and it gets even worse ... apparently there are early signs that hackers have already started writing new viruses which use the Sony 'rootkit' as a gateway around XP's security measures ...

    Up until today, the ONLY effective way to remove Sony's malware is to reinstall windows XP from hard media ... which the vast majority of XP computer buyers don't have ! However, it appears that a serious lawsuit has prompted Sony to post an 'uninstaller' on the web ...


    ~
    Last edited by Melonie; 11-12-2005 at 07:16 AM.

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    Default Re: Warning about Sony/BMG spyware

    Fuck Windows. That's why I bought an Apple.

    Apple users should know that BMG also has one these things that does a kernel extension. If anyone knows what a kernel extension is - then you know what a VIOLATION of your computer this is just to play a CD. I can understand a kernel extension for the CD PLAYER, but not for a CD. Luckily though, Apple throws up a request for the administrator's password and anytime that shows up just to play a CD, well - that CD don't get played.

    Of course, with all the bullshit that has been going on, the only CD's I have recently bought are from RenFest artists and Do It Yourself'ers.

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