More on Sony's "DRM Rootkit"

A couple of days ago we posted a story about Sony DRM installing a rootkit. Since then we have seen many more stories on the subject that I thought were worth sharing. manno gave us a link to the inquirer and salemnic sent us a page from the washington post. smallfries gave us one from PC Pro. It's nice to see this story not getting lost in the cracks since the implications are gigantic.

Maybe Sony Should Print This On Their CD's....

[8127972]

We Got Root

Hrm...

[LilGuy]

So they're gonna root all my cds? Yet another reason to switch to KaZaa/Grokster/Mule/DC++

*sigh* Silly executives, rape is for kids.

Never fear, Slashdot is here!

[NerdBuster]

"It's nice to see this story not getting lost in the cracks since the implications are gigantic."

With Slashdot reporting this 10 times a day I doubt it will get lost :)

Re:I don't understand the fuss.

[10Ghz]

I don't understand the fuss.

That's because you are an idiot. No, really.

Re:Russinovich's Take

[calbanese]

Or maybe they get their money because they know how to spell.

yes, but is it Mac compatible?

[Anonymous Coward]

Apparently this rootkit does not run on Mac OSX. Yet another example of the vast library of software available only to Windows users. :-(

Look at Sony's FAQ,
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/faq.html#listeni ng [sonybmg.com]

The protected CD looses all features and appears as a normal CD on a Macintosh. This really sucks!

Im switching to Windows!

Re:Yes, this is bad

[Donniedarkness]

"Is Sony aiding and abetting cheaters?"

Doesn't Sony Entertainment develope (and produce) Everquest? Heh... I wonder what the media could do with THIS...

"Sony using rootkit to ruin WoW"

Re:First4Internet

[TrueKonrads]

I suggest you put blank keys together with some epoxytde in their locks, break of the keys and slap DRM sticker :)

Great new band name

[Anonymous Coward]

Sony and the Rootkits...

Re:Russinovich's Take

[interiot]

Hahaha.

1. complain to editors about posting dupes
2. editors start to link to their previous stories
3. posters visit those previous stories, and copy links FROM THE previous FREAKING ARTICLE itself [slashdot.org]
4. ???
5. profit!!

How does this stuff get modded up?

Re:First4Internet

[God'sDuck]

that would actually be Analog Rights Management.

lovely idea, though.

Send your Congressman a CD

[Anonymous Coward]

Everyone send your congressman a complimentary CD, then send them a letter a week later explaing what Sony did to them.

Re:... until removed or deleted.

[garcia]

... but they conveniently forget to point out that their software can't be removed or deleted by the common user...

You can have a Sony rep contact you and they will help you remove it. Sounds like good service to them.

but what they are doing is still morally very wrong...

I don't see what this has to do with the discussion at hand. Yes, we all know that corporations have little or negative morals. The beginning point of this thread was whether or not Sony could be chased down legally for this install. I proposed that they could not. My hypothesis still stands unchallenged.

Re:First4Internet

[Ender Ryan]

No no, it's Door Rights Management.

Re:Sue

[Alphabet Pal]

Additional items from the EULA:

• On DAYS when we can't get our cars started, you agree to COME BY our houses in your CAR and pick us up. You will fully compensate US for any time lost DUE to being late to work.
• On every third FRIDAY, you will report to our company CAFETERIA and cook and serve FOOD to us.
• When we are low on MONEY, we will stand outside your house with a BLACKJACK, hit you over the HEAD with it, and take your WALLET.
• We reserve full pillaging RIGHTS to your wife and ATTRACTIVE children.
• You agree that you will not LISTEN to purchased CD.

Lnux version?

[frinkacheese]

Does anybody know if there is a Linux port of this RK? Or will it run on WINE? I would really love to have this RK on my Linux box. I think it's the only thing stopping me from using Linux on the desktop at the moment.

Re:Sue

[trentblase]

Not to sound trollish, but perhaps you should reconsider this marriage?

Re:Grounds for suit

[jenkin sear]

I was thinking letters of marque and reprisal myself- if they break my machine, and I have no other recourse, I want to go loot their freighters.

Actually, I wonder if the RICO act applies, particularly if this was done in collusion with the RIAA- it sure seems like collusion, and the uninstall process described above seems like extortion.

Re:Simple Solution: Boycott Sony to Death

[Keith Russell]

Screw their stupid DRM'ed Memorysticks, we have our SD...

SD is an abbreviation for Secure Digital. The remaining irony is left as an excercise to the reader.

Re:Here's the address of the guy to write to at So

[mihalis]

Hey, I mentioned this article to my wife who actually works for Sony-BMG right there at HQ on 550 Madison, and even she didn't reply to me. no kidding!

Re:Maybe Sony Should Print This On Their CD's....

[acoustix]

"Logged in with Administrator rights"

I guess that means that no one from my company will be listening to DRM'd CDs. I don't even let my users have "power user" rights.

-Nick