Sony's controversial DRM technology installs rootkit-style software when users play Sony BMG CDs on Windows PCs.

Sony BMG has endured a public-relations and legal nightmare after it emerged digital rights management (DRM) software installed on some of its music CDs (First4Internet XCP program) created a handy means for hackers to hide malware from anti-virus scanning programs.

Under pressure, Sony has been forced to recall discs loaded with the technology and create an exchange program (http://blog.sonymusic.com/sonybmg/archives/111505.html) for consumers. The music label still faces class action lawsuits by users who allege that their PCs have been damaged by the technology.

Source (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/21/gaffer_tape_trips_up_sony_drm/)

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Mac anti-rip code surfaces on Sony BMG CD

Sony BMG's controversial DRM code controversy may have now spread to Macs.
According to long-running Mac user website MacInTouch, at least one CD distributed by the major label includes a Mac OS X application that purportedly installs a pair of extensions to the operating system's microkernel.

Source (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/11/sony_bmg_mac_drm/)


Related Blog Here (http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/11/more-on-sony-dangerous-decloaking.html)

I see that one of the CDs containing the XCP Content Protection Technology is The Coral's 'The Invisible Invasion'. :noid:

Sneaky sods aren't they? :disgust:

See the Electronic Frontier Foundation (http://www.eff.org/) - Defending Freedom in the Digital World. :thumbsup:

It seems like it's really hit the fan for Sony, eh? :disgust:

Did I miss this in the UK press or are they to preoccupied with trivia to report it? :unibrow:

I had a couple of bent sony warez recently installed on a pc, I then installed two bits of legit sony software on the pc, these were to allow me to upload data and tunes to my minidisc from the pc.

The legit sony software, turned off my bent sony warez ....


Sony are dead dodgy, boycott the Sony corporation

Sony arnt having a lot of luck with the PSP though. Piracy is rife

I then installed two bits of legit sony software on the pc, these were to allow me to upload data and tunes to my minidisc from the pc. The legit sony software, turned off my bent sony warez ....

Sony are dead dodgy, boycott the Sony corporation

Ahaa, but what did it surreptitiously place on your hard drive? :evil:
(good word that init? :lol:)

Sony arnt having a lot of luck with the PSP though. Piracy is rife
Record companies always blame piracy for the drop in record sales, although I think it's more to do with the fact that TV and radio are at saturation point with 'chart music'. The high cost of CD's has a lot to do with it also, although supermarkets now sell chart stuff for less than a tenner. Mind you, when an album can be produced in someone's bedroom (ie David Gray), they're still getting a hefty return.

I usually buy non-chart music and this is the stuff they really screw you on. Around the sixteen to eighteen quid mark in the large retailers, and you usually have to order!!

Amazon are a good alternative if you spend over £19 (free shipping). Don't be afraid to buy off their 'resellers'. I bought a CD a few weeks ago, (Amazon import £12.99) off a reseller £4.87 + £1.24, factory sealed, brand new...and it came from the States by air mail!