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Mac anti-rip code surfaces on Sony BMG CD
The Register ^ | 11 November 2005 | Tony Smith

Posted on 11/11/2005 11:48:53 AM PST by ShadowAce

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1 posted on 11/11/2005 11:48:53 AM PST by ShadowAce
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To: rdb3; chance33_98; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Bush2000; PenguinWry; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; ...

2 posted on 11/11/2005 11:49:14 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: ShadowAce

Ain't it a bitch when someone fights against thieves?


3 posted on 11/11/2005 11:52:00 AM PST by pageonetoo (Rush probably broke the law, but it's ok. He's the MajaRushie! Blame everybody else.)
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To: ShadowAce

Please explain the DRM code controversy?


4 posted on 11/11/2005 11:53:28 AM PST by dangus
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To: ShadowAce
I'm really getting sick of this DRM nonsense. Only honest users get punished/inconvenienced by this ip bullying. Sony has been a pain for many years with their proprietary formats, and now this possibly illegal infestation.

No more Sony products for me until I see a change in posture..yea right.
5 posted on 11/11/2005 11:54:18 AM PST by catbertz
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To: ShadowAce
The good news is that OS X makes you authorize the installation of this crap, unlike Windows, where it happens without you knowing it (until later).
The dialog should warn you that something's weird (why do I have to give my password just to play music?).

The bad news is that Sony is a trusted name (for how long???) and that people might do it anyway...

6 posted on 11/11/2005 11:54:25 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: pageonetoo
Ain't it a bitch when someone fights against thieves?

I'm sure you won't mind if we take away your guns, because you might commit a robbery someday.

7 posted on 11/11/2005 11:55:57 AM PST by Izzy Dunne (Hello, I'm a TAGLINE virus. Please help me spread by copying me into YOUR tag line.)
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To: ShadowAce
It is not believed that the two extensions incorporate the rootkit that is causing such controversy becuase of its effect on Windows machines. It's a Mac version of SunnComm's DRM software, MediaMax, which Sony BMG uses to copy-protect a range of CDs. ®

Oh, then it's ok. Why bother with the article?

8 posted on 11/11/2005 11:56:07 AM PST by VeniVidiVici (What? Me worry?)
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To: Izzy Dunne
Sophos, a big corporate anti-virus company, has released a sony rootkit detector/remover.

It's fast and doesn't install to your registry..just run it from your desktop.

Here's a link: http://www.sophos.com/support/disinfection/rkprf.html
9 posted on 11/11/2005 12:00:16 PM PST by catbertz
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To: ShadowAce
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.

How can it do it without prompting for the password?

10 posted on 11/11/2005 12:00:59 PM PST by Tribune7
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To: Izzy Dunne
The good news is that OS X makes you authorize the installation of this crap, unlike Windows, where it happens without you knowing it...

Actually, without administrative permissions, it doesn't install at all.

11 posted on 11/11/2005 12:01:17 PM PST by Senator Bedfellow
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To: dangus

"Please explain the DRM code controversy?"

Sony / BMG's newer CDs install a program that prevents you from making more than 3 copies of a music CD.

The problem is that 1) the user doesn't know it, 2) the end user license agreement (ELUA) when found it horrible, and 3) Sony uses "cloaking" software that is easily hacked.

Cloaking - that's a practice by where a program can be run on your PC w/o you ever finding out unless you use special tools (rootkit).

The cloaking software that Sony is using can be used to hide ANY program, including viruses and spyware. Soooo... the latest viruses are now looking for this utility so that they can hide from you and your antivirus programs!


12 posted on 11/11/2005 12:02:01 PM PST by TWohlford
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To: dangus

Here's a link to one story about it that explains what the record companies are up to now. They will get as little of my money as possible.

http://www.betanews.com/article/Sony_to_Help_Remove_its_DRM_Rootkit/1130965475


13 posted on 11/11/2005 12:02:25 PM PST by plain talk
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To: ShadowAce

I thought Macs were virus proof?


14 posted on 11/11/2005 12:07:57 PM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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To: ShadowAce
Can't be; I have it on good authority that no Mac anywhere can execute malicious code :-p

Seriously, though, it's good that Sony's being caught out on something this outrageous. I think the lawsuit against them for the WinXP rootkit will probably be successful, and hopefully in addition to damages they'll have to replace and recall any CDs that have this "DRM" garbage on them.
15 posted on 11/11/2005 12:08:56 PM PST by Turbopilot (Nothing in the above post is or should be construed as legal research, analysis, or advice.)
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To: pageonetoo

Had SONY labelled the disk, "Warning: Playing this disk on your computer will result in software being installed which is designed to prevent replication of this disk," SONY would be reasonable. The person who purchased the disk could decide whether he wanted to play the disk or not, knowing its effects on his computer.

Instead, SONY left ther customers wondering how they got what appeared to be a virus installed on their computers, and which could cripple their computer if they attempted to remove it.


16 posted on 11/11/2005 12:13:57 PM PST by dangus
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To: TWohlford

please add 4) may cause some computer to crash causing a system32 error.

i've not had this happen to me but i did have to repair one computer so far that crashed after loading velvet revolver cd into her computer.

http://brandon.fuller.name/archives/2004/06/10/09.46.44/

it was an easy fix for me but it costed her $50 for me to restore her system32 files. i'm not sure if this is the same stuff but it can cause problems.

WINDOWS HINT: hold down the shift button when placing a music CD into your computer. leave the button held down for about 60 seconds until your computer stop trying to load it. this disables the auto run. after that you should be able to run your regular buring/backup software.


17 posted on 11/11/2005 12:26:44 PM PST by postaldave (i've given up on being mad in exchange for bitter sarcasm.)
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To: dangus
Had SONY labelled the disk, "Warning: Playing this disk on your computer will result in software being installed which is designed to prevent replication of this disk," SONY would be reasonable.

That wouldn't have been good enough. They would have had to add: "This software will allow viruses and other malware to hide in your computer and it will not be easy to remove. Playing this disk on your computer completely compromises the security of your computer and there is a significant risk that your entire computer hard drive will be wiped clean as a result of listening to this disk on your computer."
18 posted on 11/11/2005 12:32:49 PM PST by BikerNYC (Modernman should not have been banned.)
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To: The_Victor
I thought Macs were virus proof?

Not a virus, more like spyware, requires an active effort of an
administrator user to get the software installed

NTL - pisses me off
19 posted on 11/11/2005 12:34:58 PM PST by HangnJudge (thanks to HawaiianGecko for the graphics)
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To: pageonetoo

I'm sure you'll be OK with it when a private enterprise secretly makes keys to your house "just in case", and if you later change the locks, your house burns down.

Fair?


20 posted on 11/11/2005 12:52:23 PM PST by shadowman99
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