Welcome, Guest. Please Login
 
  HomeHelpSearchLogin FAQ Radified Ghost.Classic Ghost.New Bootable CD Blog  
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print
rootkits from sony (Read 22559 times)
nwps
Guest




Back to top
rootkits from sony
Nov 4th, 2005 at 10:43pm
 
 
 
IP Logged
 

Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #1 - Nov 6th, 2005 at 11:25am
 
For information on rootkit detection options, see the thread "Rootkits:  Beyond Viruses & Spyware" on this forum at:
http://radified.com/cgi-bin/YaBB/YaBB.cgi?board=general;action=display;num=11219...
 
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #2 - Nov 11th, 2005 at 3:02pm
 
And the expected security threats arising from Sony's rootkit are beginning to appear:  See "New virus uses Sony BMG software" on CNN at http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/internet/11/10/sony.hack.reut/index.html
 
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #3 - Nov 12th, 2005 at 2:35pm
 
CNN is now reporting:  "Sony to halt use of controversial CD protection" - see http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Music/11/11/sony.copyprotection.ap/index.html

These actions by Sony have resulted in one irrevocable decision for me:  I will never, never purchase any Sony product for the remainder of my earthly days.  Any company that is more concerned with protecting its copyrights than with protecting its customers is not worthy of my business.
 
 
IP Logged
 
NightOwl-
Übermensch
*****
Offline


"I tought I saw a puddy
tat...."

Posts: 2094
Olympia, WA--Puget Sound-USA


Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #4 - Nov 12th, 2005 at 3:09pm
 
Pleonasm

You do realize that the main reason we get so much spam is that Microsoft's programs are geared toward making it easier for business to mass-merchandise to the feeble minded masses--and their web products are geared towards these multi-media glitz websites that are riddled with security openings!
 

No question is stupid...but, possibly the answers are  Wink !
(This is an old *NightOwl* user account--not in current use.  Current account is NightOwl without a dash at the end.)
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #5 - Nov 12th, 2005 at 6:58pm
 
Ah, NightOwl, I agree with your observation.  But in this case, we have a major company - Sony - that knowingly and willingly choose to infect customers' PCs with a rootkit that can facilitate a virus infection.  The fault is clearly that of Sony, and not of Microsoft.

I think Sony's behavior is disgraceful.  They should be ashamed.
 
 
IP Logged
 

thorin
Technoluster
***
Offline


Novice

Posts: 162
Dallas, Texas


Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #6 - Nov 12th, 2005 at 7:44pm
 
Nightowl,

Microsoft's actions, past, present and future,  aside, don't you think Sony knew that hackers could, and would, hide behind their rootkit copy protection setup?  That is what I find to be inexcusable - I think they had to know (they are not a small company with very limited resources), yet they still used the scheme. 

thorin
 

thorin
 
IP Logged
 
NightOwl-
Übermensch
*****
Offline


"I tought I saw a puddy
tat...."

Posts: 2094
Olympia, WA--Puget Sound-USA


Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #7 - Nov 13th, 2005 at 1:21am
 
Pleonasm and thorin

Don't get me wrong--I am not trying to *apologize* for Sony's stupidity--I loath any company the puts something on my system without making it clear what they are doing--Symantec does it with their bloated *SystemWorks* all the time--I wish they would install the software and leave it to me to configure and choose what to have running in the background--I spend the first hour after installation turning off all the hidden processes that I didn't really want running--Intuit with their TurboTax software whose EULA allows one to have a backup copy of their software, used a *spyware* company's anti-piracy software that would *break* my RIAD mirror array each time I ran Turbotax because it detected my mirror drive an *illegal* attempt to copy their software--
my point is/was that Sony is not the only/or first company to purposely create software that is not primarily in the best interests of the customers they sell their products to!
 

No question is stupid...but, possibly the answers are  Wink !
(This is an old *NightOwl* user account--not in current use.  Current account is NightOwl without a dash at the end.)
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #8 - Nov 13th, 2005 at 12:50pm
 
Good points, NightOwl.  With respect to software, the rule is "let the buyer beware."

I selected TaxCut for preparing my personal family taxes rather than TurboTax for the reasons you stated in your post, and have been using it over the years.  My understanding is that Intuit has since disabled the spyware scheme in TurboTax, but even if that is true, I still will not 'reward' Intuit for their bad behavior by buying their products.  They have lost this one customer for life.  Period.

Concerning SystemWorks, though, I'm confused.  Yes, the package installs with a set of standard defaults that typically need to be customized, but what do you mean by "turning off all the hidden processes that I didn't really want running"?  I would be curious to learn exactly what you disable in SystemWorks.
 
 
IP Logged
 
NightOwl-
Übermensch
*****
Offline


"I tought I saw a puddy
tat...."

Posts: 2094
Olympia, WA--Puget Sound-USA


Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #9 - Nov 13th, 2005 at 4:50pm
 
To all

Happened across this web page--haven't listened to the offerings as yet--but looks relevant:

Security Now

 

No question is stupid...but, possibly the answers are  Wink !
(This is an old *NightOwl* user account--not in current use.  Current account is NightOwl without a dash at the end.)
 
IP Logged
 
nigol
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #10 - Nov 21st, 2005 at 9:39pm
 
Never expected the story would make it to
the comicstrips :http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/cx_ft_uc/latest
date: Mo Nov 21
 
 
IP Logged
 

Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #11 - Nov 23rd, 2005 at 3:27pm
 
A fascinating and technically detailed log of this saga may be found at http://www.sysinternals.com/Blog/. ; Highly recommended reading for all.
 
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #12 - Nov 23rd, 2005 at 5:40pm
 
The State of Texas is in the process of suing Sony.  If successful, they seek to collect $100,000 in damages for each violation of the state's Consumer Protection Against Computer Spyware Act.

Sony is about to learn what most Americans already know:  "Don't Mess With Texas!"

Reference:
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/newspubs/releases/2005/112105sony_pop.pdf
 
 
IP Logged
 
Pleonasm
Guest




Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #13 - Nov 30th, 2005 at 1:48pm
 
The arrogance of Sony continues.  Although the company recalled five million CDs with the rootkit software, they continue to distribute CDs with "hard-to-remove software that alerts the company whenever a CD loaded with its technology is played" (according to the Los Angeles Times).
 
 
IP Logged
 
NightOwl-
Übermensch
*****
Offline


"I tought I saw a puddy
tat...."

Posts: 2094
Olympia, WA--Puget Sound-USA


Back to top
Re: rootkits from sony
Reply #14 - Nov 30th, 2005 at 2:39pm
 
Pleonasm

I saw a local newspaper tech article about two weeks ago that said Sony has created a *uninstall* fix that you can download from a website--sorry--I don't know the details--but, the gist of the article was
you have to let the website *prep* your system to accept the download--but, turns out that *prepping* leaves your system open to downloads from other web sites that know how to exploit whatever it is the Sony's *prepping* opened, and apparently leaves *open*!


I don't know how true this is--anyone *in the know* that can confirm this?
 

No question is stupid...but, possibly the answers are  Wink !
(This is an old *NightOwl* user account--not in current use.  Current account is NightOwl without a dash at the end.)
 
IP Logged
 
Pages: 1 2 
Send Topic Print