Pest Patrol will purge Sony’s rootkit enabled DRM software |
Sony’s DRM saga continues with Pest Patrol now classifying
Sony’s XCP DRM software as: XCP.Sony.Rootkit, Music Player, XCP.Sony.Rootkit.Patch and XCP.Sony.SP2:
XCP.Sony.Rootkit Extended Copy Protection(XCP) is Digital Rights Management (DRM) software manufactured by First4Internet, a UK company. This particular variant of XCP is licensed and bundled by Sony BMG, and is reportedly distributed on more than 2 million Sony BMG Audio CDs. This software is intended to stop casual CD piracy. Toward this end, the software is designed to prevent protected CDs being played with anything other than an included Media Player, Music Player.
Additionally, Pest Patrol says later this week they have a solution.
Computer Associates, maker of security software, has announced their anti-spyware program PestPatrol will detect and remove Sony’s rootkit-enabled DRM software. I spoke to Samuel Curry, Vice President, Product Management of Computer Associates, yesterday and he confirmed that four pests from Sony have been added to PestPatrol’s new definitions slated to be released this week.
Additionally, the EFF has posted a list of some CDs with the XCP DRM software that contains the rootkit as well as explaining to users how they can identify which CDs contain the software. Now Sony has a black eye in at least one adware/spyware vendor’s database.
Probably the most damning part of this spyware definition are the following sentences: “Includes mechanisms to thwart removal by security or anti-spyware products. Cannot be uninstalled by Windows Add/Remove Programs and no uninstaller is provided with application”
Surreal.
Did this post make you go hmm?
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[…] Finally, after 10 media frenzy days, Sony stops the presses on the CDs with the rootkits included. We are aware that a computer virus is circulating that may affect computers with XCP content protection software,” the record label said in a statement Friday. “We stand by content protection technology as an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology.” […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Rootkit infested Sony CD production suspended — November 11, 2005 @ 4:22 pm PST
[…] Chronology of Sony DRM saga Tuesday November 1, 2005: Fascinating tale of DRM hell Monday November 7, 2005: Sony DRM rootkit debacle continues Tuesday November 8, 2005: EMI says no rootkits from our CDs Wednesday November 9, 2005: Pest Patrol will purge Sony’s rootkit enabled DRM software New! yactions.buildButton( ’save’, ‘My_Web’ ); […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Sony recalls CDs, offers swap to customers — November 15, 2005 @ 4:04 pm PST
I have been lucky enough to havefound the almighty xcp.sony.rootkit on my laptop. I have ran Pest Control 5 numerous times (at least
and quaranteened it. Still no luck getting rid of it. Any further suggestions? Will a complete reinstall of XP solve the problem? Please help, it is affecting my computer greatly.
Comment by Charles Godby — April 28, 2006 @ 12:54 am PST
Hi Charles - sorry you are having trouble
Yes, a complete reinstallation should rid your system of the problem. If you spend a lot of time connected to the web, it’s not a bad idea to do a complete reinstall every once in a great while anyway.
Comment by TDavid — April 28, 2006 @ 8:55 am PST
[…] They were bagged for hiding a rootkit in some CDs, they’ve been playing a neverending game of cat and mouse with PSP homebrew developers, the PS3 was seen by many as too expensive at E3 and now the news that they might try to ban the sale of preowned PS3 games?: It seems that Sony is planning to adopt a licensing system that will mean gamers won’t own the PS3 titles that they’ve paid money for. Instead, they will only be purchasing the licence to play the game and that the software itself will still be Sony property - meaning that the disc won’t be the customer’s to sell. […]
Pingback by Make You Go Hmm: » Sony not to allow pre-owned PS3 games? — May 24, 2006 @ 7:58 pm PST