Yes I own both.Quote:
Originally Posted by Syzich
No problems with either other than when using scratched or dirty discs.
A good washing usually fixes the latter.
The scratched ones.....
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Yes I own both.Quote:
Originally Posted by Syzich
No problems with either other than when using scratched or dirty discs.
A good washing usually fixes the latter.
The scratched ones.....
Looks like Sony's trying to save face http://www.eweek.com/article2/0,1895,1881203,00.asp
http://www.betanews.com/article/Sony...kit/1130965475
The patch is available
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html
And Wikipedia is well up to date http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit
For more information, go to Mark Russinovich's Blog atQuote:
Update: Reader Howard Hoy has posted several excellent updates in the comments. He's contacted Sony, asking for a way to remove the software. Sony sent him to a Web site that required the installation of an ActiveX control developed by the same company that created the rootkit. There's some indication the ActiveX control can perform a remote reboot of his system.
Update 2.0: BetaNews reports that Sony plans to make a patch available that will uncloak the DRM software -- though it won't remove the DRM itself. The link is here, but at the moment requires the previously mentioned ActiveX control before you can download it. Uncool, Sony. Just cough up the patch without making your customers jump through hoops.
http://www.sysinternals.com/Blog/ Below are two posts from the 300 plus comments to this issue on Mark's blog.
Quote:
Mark - I'm glad to see this. Thought I was the only one steamed about this. I bought a reissue of an obscure jazz trombone album from 1964. It had this DRM on it. Sony has a site in the UK that deals with customer issues regarding this. I returned the CD and asked that they tell me how to remove this software. They have to install MORE software in order to remove this software. After trying with Sony, I wrote First 4 Internet directly (at [email protected]), regarding the removal process of their XCP-Aurora software, and asked what the ActiveX software was they need to isntall in order to remove the XCP software. Here is what they said, on October 27:
Dear Tom:
The updates site initially prompts the user to install an ActiveX control which detects if there is an XCP - Aurora installation and then selects the most appropriate update. To remove this activeX control simply open the folder ‘systemroot\downloaded program files’ (On a windows XP computer with a default installation the systemroot folder will be ‘C:\Windows’) and delete the file ‘codesupport.ocx’.
When the activeX control has been installed the Updates Site will display one of two screens. The updates site will either inform you that it cannot find an XCP installation or it will offer the download of Service Pack 1. Service Pack 1 contains several updates and workarounds but is essentially the same software that was originally installed from your purchased CD. If the Update Site displays the screen informing you it cannot find an XCP installation then the previous uninstall attempts have been successful.
If however the Update Site prompts you to install Service Pack 1 you can follow John’s instructions and the new uninstall should be successful. All you will be left with is ‘codesupport.ocx’ which is from the website not the CD so isn’t part of the uninstall process. ‘Codesupport.ocx’ is easily removed following the instructions above.
The FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for the Update Site contains detailed information regarding installing the activeX and downloading updates. The FAQ can be viewed here http://updates.xcp-aurora.com/faq.aspx.
If you have any further issues or the FAQ doesn’t resolve your questions please do not hesitate to reply to this email.
Very Best Regards,
The XCP – Aurora Support Team
http://updates.xcp-aurora.com
Here is one of the comments on the sysinternals website.
"Sent an email earlier today to New Media Manager, Stein Vegusdal @ SonyBMG Norway. In his reply he states that Mark has violated the DMCA act when he tried to find the installed rootkit and manually removed it. As per, he states that it clearly says in the EULA that customers have to contact Sony customerservice for getting removalinstructions. As to try to remove it yourself, Sony seems to think of it as a breach of the DMCA act and other applicable laws around the world. Further he states that First4Internet is a Symantec-partner and that Symantec has posted it as not harmful.. Seems like we can wait for forever for a Symantec removal tool against this **** then.
Further he defends the rootkit, by saying that the gamesindustrys copyprotection schemes are not being critizised, even if they have stricter rules... As if that makes the Sony case any better...
# posted by dubeldarr : 10:09 AM, November 02, 2005"
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...rotection.htmlQuote:
SONY ISSUES PATCH
After a chorus of criticism, Sony Corp.'s music division said Wednesday it is distributing a free software patch to reveal hidden files that automatically installed to hard drives when some of its music CDs were played on personal computers.
The offending technology was designed to thwart music piracy.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment and its partner, UK-based First 4 Internet, said they decided to offer the patch as a precaution, not because of any security vulnerability, which some critics had alleged.
"What we decided to do is take extra precautionary steps to allay any fears," said Mathew Gilliat-Smith, First 4 Internet's CEO. "There should be no concern here."
# posted by Search Engines Web : 7:27 PM, November 02, 2005[/QUOTE]
Please note that this is not an uninstaller for DRM. It merely reveals the hidden stealth toolkit files.
Linda
;) :rolleyes: :cool:
This still drives me mad! Some poor user can't uninstall a program on his computer because Sony says so?! :mad: :mad: :mad:Quote:
The patch will be made available for download from Sony BMG's Web site, with another offered directly to antivirus vendors. The DRM software will not be removed, however, only uncovered; that means users will still be unable to delete it without risk of rendering their CD drive inoperable.
Customers must contact Sony BMG support for removal instructions.
For an audio explanation of this piece of software trash that Sony is using
check out the podcast at
http://www.grc.com/securitynow.htm
Labels on the CD's say quote"content enhanced protected"
A search on "Amazon revealed 24,000 CD's that had this"
forgot this in my post
Episode #12 | 03 Nov 2005 | 24 min.
Sony's "Rootkit Technology" DRM (copy protection gone bad)
Leo and I discuss details and consequences of Sony Corporation's alarming "Rootkit" DRM (digital rights management) copy protection scheme. This poorly written software unnecessarily employs classic rootkit technology (see episode #9) to hide from its users after installation. It can not be uninstalled easily, it can be easily misused for malicious purposes, and it has been implicated in many repeated BSOD "blue screen of death" PC crashes.
I don't believe that two wrongs make a right....but wouldn't it be fitting if some hacker downloaded a rootkit into one of Sony's servers? Maybe the one in their accounting department, right before the end of the year when they have to do month-, quarter-, and year-end closings and figure out their corporate income taxes..and print their annual reports to shareholders ;) ....and maybe that rootkit caused their system to crash. What a shame. I'm sure Sony would agree with the need to have that rootkit there, though.
Right........... :rolleyes:
Here are two articles on this Sony's stealth rootkit. Both articles contain new information.
One of the key statements is that Sony's stealth toolkit breaks Vista spectacularly according to the first article. It has also been reported that this software crashes XP media centers.
Sony has a PR disaster on their hands. I wonder how long it will take for them to say "Uncle".
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...referrer=email
http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/secu...referrer=email
Cheers,
Linda
It shouldn't be possible to install a rootkit in Vista at all, though of course being still in early beta, the protection may not be there yet. There seems to be plenty of evidence of it crashing MCE from what I've seen.
That is outrageous, and is just one small step removed from all malware writers being able to hide behind the DMCA. You guys over there in the US need to start doing something about that stupid law soon. That's what you get when big business can buy legislation, and bribe politicians (sorry, I mean "donate canpaign funds") :mad:Quote:
Sent an email earlier today to New Media Manager, Stein Vegusdal @ SonyBMG Norway. In his reply he states that Mark has violated the DMCA act when he tried to find the installed rootkit and manually removed it. As per, he states that it clearly says in the EULA that customers have to contact Sony customerservice for getting removalinstructions. As to try to remove it yourself, Sony seems to think of it as a breach of the DMCA act and other applicable laws around the world.
I am curious,
Do the CDs cause the same problems for people using linux or Mac OS?
Doc
No, this is a problem for Windows computers only ATM. But there certainly are Linux rootkits, indeed the very idea of rootkits started with Linux/Unix I believe. So this sort of thing could definitely be adapted for other OS's in the future.
There are more strong words here, I couldn't have written it better myself:
http://www.wired.com/news/rants/0,23...w=wn_tophead_5
:( Not much of a warning message.Quote:
Sony may even have committed a crime under the U.S. Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which can carry fines and prison terms for anyone who "knowingly causes the transmission of a program ... and as a result of such conduct, intentionally causes damage, without authorization, to a protected computer." Corrupting Windows so it misreports the contents of a hard drive sounds a lot like "damage," and the click-wrap license agreement on the Sony disk amounts to pretty thin "authorization" -- disclosing only that "this CD will automatically install a small proprietary software program ... intended to protect the audio files embodied on the CD."
Liam
Thanks everyone for this information. Not only will I boycott all Sony products, but I'll make sure everyone I know is aware of this. How bad would it be if you bought someone a Sony CD for Christmas and it ended up disabling their machine or invited in other malware? Cripes!
Here is the URL for the Sony music feedback if anybody else wants to voice their opinions directly to Sony:
http://www.sonymusic.net/sony/feedback.cgi
Here's some more good commentary:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4406178.stm
Quote:
Number four tells you to consult the EULA when you want to copy the disc. Which madhouse did we step into that now means a CD needs a EULA? I stopped buying CDs so I wouldn't have to give money to rapacious weasels years ago, and none of the CDs I own have a EULA on them. It is madness. So, at Best Buy tonight, I tried to consult the EULA before I bought the Van Zant CD.
It wasn't on the CD package, not on the shelves near by, and the blue shirted aisle trolls had no idea what I was talking about. No, they could not provide me with one, I did ask though. So, if you are dumb enough to buy a Sony CD, and don't want to rootkit your machine, you can't find out beforehand, have to agree to a one sided contract that you can't read before you say yes, and can't get your money back. Wonderful, thank you Sony.
Quote:
To end on an up note, just think about these two things. What you are seeing is the light and happy side of rights removing DRM infections. There is a bill going through congress to remove more of your rights. Yes, they can't control the analogue hole, and can't legally force you to bow to them, so they are buying government to change the laws and accomplish both goals. No good will come to the end user because of this, but it sure will make a lot of people rich.
Here's the full article:
Sony DRM is worse than you might think