Thursday, November 3, 2005
DRM Kicks It Up A Notch And Exposes Your Machine To Attackers
Posted by Ed Hansberry in "ARTICLE" @ 01:00 PM
http://news.com.com/Sony+to+patch+copy-protected+CD/2100-7355_3-5928608.html?tag=nefd.top
Last month, I purchased a CD for my wife for her birthday. I actually pre-ordered it from Amazon knowing it would ship and arrive on time. At the time of pre-order, Amazon didn't have the blaring [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] disclaimer. If it had, I wouldn't have purchased it. As soon as she put it in and tried to play it with Windows Media Player, it told her it needed to install some software. I immediately looked at the case, saw it was copy protected and sent it back for a refund, which Amazon happily provided. Had we allowed that software to install, it is very likely it would have installed the malicious software Mark Russinovich traced back to Sony music CDs.
According to the CNet article, not only is this stuff a hassle, it puts software that is deeply hidden from your view, yet allows virus writers to exploit, bypassing antivirus software. Sony has enlisted the help of anti-virus companies to patch the corporate malware. :roll: I will never knowingly buy a copy protected CD. If it ever came to the point that most CD's were copy protected, I would actually set up a new PC just for the purpose of ripping the music and then running it through external recording devices plugged into the sound card. There is always a way around this stuff. Until Sony and other labels treat me like a customer and not a thief, I'll continue to buy most of my CD's from independent artists through stores like CD Baby.
Last month, I purchased a CD for my wife for her birthday. I actually pre-ordered it from Amazon knowing it would ship and arrive on time. At the time of pre-order, Amazon didn't have the blaring [CONTENT/COPY-PROTECTED CD] disclaimer. If it had, I wouldn't have purchased it. As soon as she put it in and tried to play it with Windows Media Player, it told her it needed to install some software. I immediately looked at the case, saw it was copy protected and sent it back for a refund, which Amazon happily provided. Had we allowed that software to install, it is very likely it would have installed the malicious software Mark Russinovich traced back to Sony music CDs.
According to the CNet article, not only is this stuff a hassle, it puts software that is deeply hidden from your view, yet allows virus writers to exploit, bypassing antivirus software. Sony has enlisted the help of anti-virus companies to patch the corporate malware. :roll: I will never knowingly buy a copy protected CD. If it ever came to the point that most CD's were copy protected, I would actually set up a new PC just for the purpose of ripping the music and then running it through external recording devices plugged into the sound card. There is always a way around this stuff. Until Sony and other labels treat me like a customer and not a thief, I'll continue to buy most of my CD's from independent artists through stores like CD Baby.
