US considers banning DRM rootkits

ProPC ^ | 2/20/06 | Simon Aughton

[mathprof]

Rootkits are pretty evil. They allow Sony (or hackers) to make changes to your system that are almost impossible to detect. Antivirus programs can't see them. They are far worse than Spyware. I hope congress does make them illegal.

[elephant]

I would want a brand new computer, to start.

[ThinkDifferent]

I fail to understand why Sony's actions weren't already massively illegal under existing law. Kevin Mitnick was thrown in prison for less.

[RS]

IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING ... here is good info and a free tool -

http://www.sysinternals.com/Utilities/RootkitRevealer.html

Read what the page says - if you don't understand it ... DON'T mess with it. You can easily damage your system to the point where you need a complete re-install.

[Cicero]

At the very least, they should pass a law holding harmless from lawsuits Anti-spyware and Anti-virus companies who provide software to block or remove these rootkits.

When the evil Sony rootkit was discovered, a lot of software companies were afraid of offering cures for it for fear of being sued, because it's illegal to help anyone remove copy protection, according to an earlier stupid law that congress passed.

So, maybe they should just reverse that law blocking removal of copy protection, at least in the case of rootkits, and let the market work.

As for Sony, they have lost my respect. I used to think they were a good outfit. They are going to have a lot of image repair work to do after this.

[Fiddlstix]

[A. Pole]

bump

[thoughtomator]

Because Sony pays more in taxes than Kevin Mitnick did.

Seriously, though, Sony's actions were already massively illegal and the exposure to criminal and civil penalties is not small, if there were a prosecutor and class-action lawyer with the guts and desire to take it to them.

[the_Watchman]

I'm always suspicious! Who are these people from Sysinternals and why should I trust them enough to run their software on my machine.

Sysinternals is probably quite legitimate and safe. However, I do not know and the first paragraph reflects the proper mindset to maintain a secure PC.

[longtermmemmory]

I do hope they are made illegal.

In the meantime it should be company policy that no computer is allowed to play ANY sony CD in a company or gov computer or the computer of a government employee.

Just too security hazardous.

[Psycho_Bunny]

SysInternals is a very serious, hardcore and reputable site.  The guys who run it are Next Level Nerds and Whats-his-vich (I can never remember his name) writes for Microsoft Press.

Writes well, I might add.

The software at their site is a Must Have for administrators.

[ShadowAce]

[Fiddlstix]

More Rookit Info Click Here

[Still Thinking]

But why is a new law needed and why is Sony not criminally liable under existing law??? After all, under DMCA, you're pretty much guilty if you've ever been in the same room with a computer, so just prosecute them under that. Oh, that's right, I forgot, DMCA doesn't apply to Sony since they paid for it.

[Leatherneck_MT]

Leave it to Sony to come up with a way to violate your privacy, show their continued incompetance and piss off the Government all at the same time.

I don't buy their products for these reasons.

[Still Thinking]

Seriously, though, Sony's actions were already massively illegal and the exposure to criminal and civil penalties is not small, if there were a prosecutor and class-action lawyer with the guts and desire to take it to them.

It's high profile enough to interest Eliot Spitzer (spit!), but he has a policy only to work against the interest of the individual citizen.

[Fiddlstix]

Sorry for the typo.....
I misspelled Rootkit.....

[Still Thinking]

Mark Russinovich, IIRC.

[UCANSEE2]

bookmark

[RS]

"I'm always suspicious! Who are these people from Sysinternals and why should I trust them enough to run their software on my machine"

Excellent points - I've used their stuff, and it all seems to work well and not break anything, but you might want to google groups them for a consensus opinion - If I were you I wouldn't trust what I say either. :-)