Sony DRM hacking into your PC (rootkit and all apparently) Merged threads

**Bob Crabtree** · 03-11-2005, 01:25 PM

Brian Kreb's Washington Post blog has a link to a CD freaks page which describes a (chargeable) product that is said to stop the Sony stuff dead in its tracks.

If AnyDVD is installed and active on a PC, this new so-called "Sony DRM Rootkit Virus" has no access to the operating system and the affected audio CD appears unprotected regardless!

And, AnyDVD, seemingly, also overcomes DVD anti-copy protection and also makes all DVD Video discs region-free.

So, by implementing this stuff, Sony has brought about a chain of events that has lead to a large number of people being told how they can copy their protected DVDs.

A fine reward for its stupidity and underhanded work.

Bob
(who has observed the huge revenue increases that record and film companies have raked in from EVERY new audio/video playback/record format devised since the 1970s - despite their having strenuously opposed them all at the outset)

**directhex** · 03-11-2005, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Bob Crabtree

Brian Kreb's Washington Post blog has a link to a CD freaks page which describes a (chargeable) product that is said to stop the Sony stuff dead in its tracks.

And, AnyDVD, seemingly, also overcomes DVD anti-copy protection and also makes all DVD Video discs region-free.

So, by implementing this stuff, Sony has brought about a chain of events that has lead to a large number of people being told how they can copy their protected DVDs.

A fine reward for its stupidity and underhanded work.

Bob
(who has observed the huge revenue increases that record and film companies have raked in from EVERY new audio/video playback/record format devised since the 1970s - despite their having strenuously opposed them all at the outset)

i simply stopped buying any music without a CDDA logo on it a few years back. no confusion, no drm, no profits for sony-bmg-emi-universal-vivendi-godknows. discs i can do evil things like "rip", i buy. those i can't, i don't.

now where's the logic in that?

**iranu** · 03-11-2005, 01:38 PM

Hoisted by there own petard springs to mind. Now that the story has hit the BBC site more and more people will be informed and therefore educated not only about how naff Sony is but also how to circumvent copyright protection.

The question is, how many other companie's DRM/copyright protection software does the same or worse.

**Paul Adams** · 03-11-2005, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by XA04

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4400148.stm

Mr Gilliat-Smith said Mr Russinovich had problems removing XCP because he tried to do it manually something that was not a "recommended action". Instead, said Mr Gilliat-Smith, he should have contacted Sony BMG which gives consumers advice about how to remove the software.

LOL, clear then that they have NO clue who Mark Russinovich is!
He's a little bit more than a regular consumer

He added that First 4 Internet had had no complaints about XCP since it started being used eight months ago. He also added that the latest generation of XCP no longer used cloaked files to do its job.

They have had no complaints about the software which was installed silently and hides itself from view... odd, that...

**iranu** · 04-11-2005, 03:59 PM

This story is now beginning to hit the mainstream. Interestingly the rootkit software from Sony is already being exploited by WoW cheats to hide programs from"Warden" - Blizzards anti-cheating software.

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27444

The story gets worse over at the BBC - the last paragraph says

"And of course once there is a "technological protection mechanism" in place then it is against the law - both in Europe and the US - to get round it, so open source players for Linux platforms will be illegal. All in all, it is not looking good for those of us who like to buy and listen to music."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4406178.stm

So there you have it - once these so called entertainment companies have the technology in place and shove enough money at the US and EU rulers, even open source software will be illegal.

**TheAnimus** · 04-11-2005, 04:20 PM

intresting comment, as open source players for windows, RISC OS, solaris, BSD............

will also be illegal.... not really. The fact is its only going to be legal to play in the player they want you too, which is fair enough really. The problem is the amount they charge, and the fact there making piracy a much more attractive option, won't help them in the slightest.

**Nox** · 06-11-2005, 08:57 PM

And they are trying to steer people away from illegal music? um, how? Surely not with the argument of: "Go buy the original and we'll install extra stuff onto your PC..."

That Courtney artical was a good read.

Think i'll go browse our CD collection...

Nox

**iranu** · 07-11-2005, 09:37 PM

It gets better and better - apparantly this lovely piece of software dials home looking for an update - this is not mentioned in the EULA http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27501

Someone in Italy is suing Sony over this software - hopefully this will be copied all over the world and give these DRM using companies the wake up call they need.

**Agent** · 07-11-2005, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by iranu

Someone in Italy is suing Sony over this software - hopefully this will be copied all over the world and give these DRM using companies the wake up call they need.

So, who fancys doing this for the UK ?

**Paul Adams** · 10-11-2005, 03:31 PM

It begins... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11...ny_drm_trojan/

First trojan to be reported using the rootkit - though the gaming world was a lot quicker to exploit it to hack World of Warcraft undetected within hours of this story breaking.

Rather apt timing after the story yesterday:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11...drm_who_cares/

**TheAnimus** · 10-11-2005, 03:55 PM

Its the fact the First4Internet person is arguing with Mark Russinovich. You'd of thought they'd of done a quick google and realised that it was material he had written they were reading that thought them how to do INT 2e hooking!

**Ramedge** · 10-11-2005, 04:42 PM

Originally Posted by Knoxville

Personally I'd love to be a musician for a living not for the "cash, cars and fame" (although they would be nice benifits) but so I could spend my life doing something I enjoy.

Ever thought about becoming a session musician?
if your good enough and you get the job done quick and dont have to muck around people will hire you again in the future!
also teaching, again if your good enough theres lots of money to be made from teaching.
I know some one from the local guitar shop, he earns more money teaching than he does full time in the shop - he lives quite a nice life with his porche and his array of expensive guitars

Sorry about that off topic post

**autopilot** · 10-11-2005, 04:45 PM

Does anyone know where a list of CD's which have this rootkit on can be found?

**directhex** · 10-11-2005, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by dangerous_dom

Does anyone know where a list of CD's which have this rootkit on can be found?

http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/archives/004144.php

US versions thereof.

**Paul Adams** · 10-11-2005, 05:03 PM

The lawyers are sharpening their knives...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11...d_for_rootkit/

**Ramedge** · 10-11-2005, 05:10 PM

Any copies of the CD kept on a laptop or other device must be deleted if the original CD is stolen or lost. They cannot be stored on your work computer only a "personal home computer system owned by you". If you move countries you must delete all songs covered by the license. If you file for bankrupcy you must delete all relevant files.

Asif any one would actually follow that! if i lost the CD and my only copy was on my computer i wouldnt delete the files and go out and buy the CD again!

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