[OT] Sony music installs secret malware gateway

[Peter T. Evensen]

Just a clarification: from everything I read, you have to accept the Sony 
EULA on Windows before it will install the rootkit, so it isn't automatic 
on Windows.  The installer automatically runs, but nothing is automatically 
installed unless you click ok.  So the problem isn't the autorun, per se.

But the EULA doesn't disclose that modifications to your OS will be made...


At 01:23 AM 11/11/2005, you wrote:
>We were recently discussing the pros and cons of Windows auto-run files 
>for CDs.  It turns out that the biggest threat isn't some 14-year-old with 
>a grudge -- it's one of the world's largest corporations:
>
>
>
>Posted on Thu, Nov. 10, 2005
>Viruses exploit Sony CD copy-protection scheme
>
>SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A controversial copy-protection program that 
>automatically installs when some Sony BMG audio CDs are played on personal 
>computers is now being exploited by malicious software that takes 
>advantage of the antipiracy technology's ability to hide files.
>
>The Trojan horse programs -- three have so far been identified by 
>antivirus companies -- are named so as to trigger the cloaking feature of 
>Sony's XCP2 antipiracy technology. By piggybacking on that function, the 
>malicious programs can enter undetected, security experts said Thursday.
>
>``This could be the advanced guard,'' said Graham Cluley, senior 
>technology consultant at the security firm Sophos. ``We wouldn't be 
>surprised at all if we saw more malware that exploits what Sony has 
>introduced.''
>
>The copy protection program is included on about 20 popular music titles, 
>including releases by Van Zant and The Bad Plus, and disclosure of its 
>existence has raised the ire of many in the computing community, who 
>consider it to constitute spyware.
>
>Sony BMG Music Entertainment and the company that developed the software, 
>First 4 Internet, have claimed that the technology poses no security 
>threat. Still, Sony posted a patch last week that uncloaks files hidden by 
>the software.
>
>On Thursday, Sony released a statement ``deeply regretting any disruption 
>that this may have caused.'' It also said it was working with Symantec and 
>other firms to ensure any content-protection technology ``continues to be 
>safe.''
>
>Neither Sony spokesman John McKay nor First 4 Internet CEO Mathew 
>Gilliat-Smith returned messages seeking additional comment.
>
>Windows expert Mark Russinovich discovered the hidden copy-protection 
>technology on Oct. 31 and posted his findings on his Web log. He noted 
>that the license agreement that pops up said a small program would be 
>installed, but it did not specify it would be hidden.
>
>Manual attempts to remove the software can disable the PC's CD drive. Sony 
>offers an uninstallation program, but consumers must request it by filling 
>out two forms on the Internet.
>
>``What they did was not intentionally malicious,'' Cluley said. ``If 
>anything, it was slightly inept.''
>
>The copy-protection software, which Sony says is a necessary ``speed 
>bump'' to limit how many times a CD is copied, only works on Windows-based 
>PCs. Users of Macintosh and Linux computers are not restricted.
>
>The viruses also only target Windows-based machines.
>
>The infection opens up a backdoor, which could be used to steal personal 
>information, launch attacks on other computers and send spam, antivirus 
>companies said.
>...
><http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/business/technology/personal_technology/13134753.htm>
>
>
>More at slashdot:
><http://slashdot.org/~xtracto/journal/121088>
>
>
>--
>  Richard Gaskin
>  Fourth World Media Corporation
>  ___________________________________________________________
>  Ambassador at FourthWorld.com       http://www.FourthWorld.com
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Peter T. Evensen
http://www.PetersRoadToHealth.com
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