Sunday, November 27, 2005 parmanent link to this post
Isn't it ironic ... SONY illegally uses code published under GPL for their DRM software
Check out this post at the fsfe.org website stating that sony BMG ignores copyrights of software published under the GPL to produce their spyware rootkit.
Rootkits are cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other system objects from diagnostic and security software, and they are usually employed by malware attempting to keep their implementation hidden. The Trojan of Sony was first discovered at Synsinternals by Mark Russinovich. I think this is not merly a copyprotection since it hooks up into your system calls, scans your executable files each second and moreover uses a filterdriver on top of your CD-ROM driver to guard what you do with your CD-Rom drive.
The sony software phones home and with this type of connection the sony servers could record each time a copy-protected CD is played and the IP address of the computer.
playing it. Thats what a trojan or spyware does. The Sony Spyware installes without propper information in the EULA or registration in the systems deinstallations routines. Thats self evident since it makes no sense to inform the user about cloaking copyprotection and spyware files on his system if you want to cloak them.
The cloaking functionallity of the rootkit has been discovered to be exploited by three viruses so far.
The pathetic thing about the unistaller provided by sony is that it more or less only updates the copyprotection files.
Wake up Neo, the matrix has you.
The board of IFPI consists of representatives of EMI, Universal, Warner and drumroll Sony BMG. Yes, the very same company that has infected the computers of its customers with a self-installing, hidden rootkit that threatened the security and data-integrity of the machines it was installed on. Fortunately the EFF -- along with several others -- is now taking them to court.
Did I mention that this rootkit contained source code that was taken illegally from Free Software programs under the GNU General Public License (GPL)? So in order to preserve their distribution monopoly on music they've show themselves quite willing to ignore the copyright of software authors
Rootkits are cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other system objects from diagnostic and security software, and they are usually employed by malware attempting to keep their implementation hidden. The Trojan of Sony was first discovered at Synsinternals by Mark Russinovich. I think this is not merly a copyprotection since it hooks up into your system calls, scans your executable files each second and moreover uses a filterdriver on top of your CD-ROM driver to guard what you do with your CD-Rom drive.
The sony software phones home and with this type of connection the sony servers could record each time a copy-protected CD is played and the IP address of the computer.
playing it. Thats what a trojan or spyware does. The Sony Spyware installes without propper information in the EULA or registration in the systems deinstallations routines. Thats self evident since it makes no sense to inform the user about cloaking copyprotection and spyware files on his system if you want to cloak them.
The cloaking functionallity of the rootkit has been discovered to be exploited by three viruses so far.
The pathetic thing about the unistaller provided by sony is that it more or less only updates the copyprotection files.
Wake up Neo, the matrix has you.
Links:
Discovery of the root kit by Marc Russinovic
EFF Files Class Action Lawsuit Against Sony BMG
Illegal use of source code by Sony/BMG rootkit published under the GNU General Public License (GPL)
Virus exploits Sony/BMG rootkit
legal issues of Sony's DRM rootkit software
Techorati Tags:
rootkit | sony | GPL
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