Sony sued over copy-protected CDs
Sony BMG is being sued for using a hacker technology, called a “root kit”, to copy-protect over 20 album titles. Heads up to everyone, just so when you pop that next CD into your PC’s optical drive you will recognize the anti-virus pop-up saying there’s a virus in the files, as it’s reading the XCP file extensions. It can also be read as spyware by your spyware blocker.
Revealed in late October by Windows expert Mark Russinovich, the software copy protection system hides using virus-like techniques. One class-action lawsuit has already been filed in California and another is expected in New York. Digital rights group, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), is also gathering information from users to see if a case can be brought. The row erupted following Mark Russinovich’s discovery that Sony BMG in America was using a so-called “root kit” to conceal the program used to stop some of its CDs being copied. “Root kits” are being increasingly used by virus makers to hide their malicious wares deep inside the Windows operating system. Sony BMG used a program called XCP created by UK firm First 4 Internet that employed similar cloaking systems to hide the proprietary media player used to play tracks on 20 CDs made by the music giant and sold in the US. But since Dr Russinovich wrote about his discovery the row has snowballed and now has led to lawsuits being filed against Sony BMG.
Comments are closed.