Sony rootkits your PC

KDR_11k · Nov 2005

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/01/sony_rootkit_drm/

Like the infamous CoolWebSearch trojan, this thing replaces system functions with its own ones and breaks Windows permanently if removed. It comes on a music "CD" and autoruns, showing you an EULA claiming it installs some DRM system. AFAIK rootkit scanners will find and delete it, which breaks the CD drivers. It also hides all files that follow a certain naming scheme, leaving a big gaping security hole for viruses to slip into.

I wonder if the courts will really claim the EULA protects Sony when they are essentially installing a virus on your PC.

ScoobyDoofus · Nov 2005

Yeah. I really feel like Sony is the epitome of the "evil mega-corporation".
I don't buy Sony products if I can help it.

Irritant · Nov 2005

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah. I really feel like Sony is the epitome of the "evil mega-corporation".
I don't buy Sony products if I can help it.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree 100%. Sony is teh evil.

Scott Ruggels · Nov 2005

Here's the original link to the detective work that found this:

http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html

Scott

hawken · Nov 2005

In Japan you can rent minidiscs and cds from a store called HON. As far as I know, there's sod all copy protection on any sony CD's there.

This look like SONY of America being totally over zelous on it's products. Writing something that destroys computers sounds about right for these nuts.