Big Brother Takes Control Of Your Computer
My appologies if this has made the rounds already. (J/U seems to be going through some changes and the search feature isn't working at present.)
Sony Corporation Audio CDs, (and potentially DVDs), are installing a Rootkit in the name of Digital Rights Management on your Windows, (so far), based PCs. I've been following this story on the tech sites and I urge everyone whom reads this blog to please follow the links below and at least gain a working knowledge of what is going on. I won't bog this down with all the myriad of sordid details, the links and their comments do this quite well. In a nutshell:
. Sony Corporation Enhanced Audio CDs install a small program called a Rootkit on your Windows PC when you attempt to listen to it.
. This Rootkit is a badly written attempt at Copy Protection often termed Digital Rights Management or DRM for short.
. This has apparently been going on since at least April of 2004 (see comments in the below links).
. The Rootkit installs itself in Stealth mode, without your permission, and is not specifically spelled out in the EULA (End Users License Agreement).
. The Rootkit is not detectable by Spyware/Maleware programs or Anti-Virus programs. The Stealth mode in which it installs renders it invisible to these programs, the Windows operating system, and to YOU.
. This Rootkit makes it possible for hackers, phishers, and a plethora of nasty folks out there to hide their malicious programs on your PC by exploiting the installation of the Sony DRM Rootkit. Again making that garbage also invisible to your Anti-Virus and Spyware programs.
. This Rootkit PHONES HOME!!! It connects with Sony Music and reports the ID number of the CD being played, and at least your IP address (who you are on the Web). It has been reported it also reports on what type of operating system you have, and possibly (not verified) what sort of media programs you have on your PC.
. This Rootkit apparently has a "Blacklist" of recording/authoring software written into it reportedly disabling or limiting such venerable and legitimate programs as Nero and Itunes software. In other words in the name of copy protection it's going to dictate how and what you can use on YOUR MACHINE!
. This Rootkit does not come with an uninstall program and can not be removed by the average PC user. In fact it is extremely difficult for even IT professionals to remove without crippling the PC or worse yet making it inoperable.
. Sony's response to the growing outcry about this was to direct people to the Rootkit developers website (another Sony company) to install a "patch". This patch does not uninstall the Rootkit, it only makes it visible, and in fact installs more of this junk (an update). It still can not be removed. Sony offers a removal program by directing you to their web site and having you fill out a form and assigning you a "case" number. To date no program has been delivered to anyone affected, if it even exists at all.
. If you installed Windows NT or XP without creating a "Limited User" account, and opted to stay with the default Aministrator account (which most people do) you are wide open to this Rootkit being installed, (check the kiddies PCs!!!!!).
Class Action suits have begun in California and New York already. I urge you to please follow the links below and read the details as well as the comments. I know they can be technically intimidating for a lot of people, but please hang in there and arm yourself, YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS! Tell your friends and family and contact your government representatives to urge action. This is not limited to just the USA, it is global. This type of action by Sony already violates exisiting laws in virtually all 50 states and most of the free world, and is an inexcuseable abuse of privacy and public trust.
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