Sony Finally Stops Producing Rootkits... Temporarily
from the let-the-whole-thing-blow-over dept
You can already see the case studies being written about how badly Sony-BMG has handled this whole rootkit mess. First they absolutely denied it was a problem. Then, when the attention didn't die down immediately, they offered a "patch" and assumed that as long as they announced they had a patch, everyone would stop paying attention. Unfortunately, enough people kept paying attention and noticed that the patch didn't help much, and in some cases made the situation worse. Following that, they pulled out the desperation card of basically saying what you don't know can't hurt you, which just made things even worse for them and resulted in at least one, and possibly more, lawsuits. So, now, two weeks after this was brought to their attention, and days after virus writers started using the rootkit to hide malware (which everyone told Sony was bound to happen), Sony BMG has finally agreed to stop using the rootkit technology... temporarily. Not only that, but they do so defiantly, without an apology, saying there's really no risk and they still have the right to use such technology, but they'll stop temporarily as a "precautionary measure." Precautionary against what? It seems mostly like precautionary against bad press, which they hope will finally die down.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Too little, too late...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too little, too late...
We'll just see what happens next.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too little, too late...
Maybe you're a bit more forgiving than I am. But why would you even consider using Sony products at all, ever? Is this not one of those things that a company does that crosses some kind of line that shows that they no longer deserve any of your cash?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too little, too late...
Its like a school teacher making a mistake in New York and now you will never attend school again because "their all teachers"
Grow up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too little, too late...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Save Energy - Don't Buy Sony.
So the best action is "Do not buy Sony".
They appear to be liable for willfully spreading rootkit that allows your PC to be put at risk.
I think that they should be held liable for all and any loss of data and the cost to recover it.
Since Sony will not guarantee (See EULA) to
compensate for the damage AND ESPECIALLY the time
lost by the user I think that the correct action is 'SAY NO TO SONY!! (Just like Drugs!)
THE ENERGY COST
Since the rootkit stops the PC from going to sleep
mode think of increase in energy demand - will
SONY be made pay extra energy cost?
If a PC is left all the time it will consume
about 200W - about 2 kilowatt-hours/day.
At 10 cents/kilowatt-hr this adds up to
$36/year for EACH PC.
It all the PC users, about 1 billion now, in the world bought the SONY CD - which is Sony's goal and Intention, the cost of the extra electricity would be about $70 Billion each year.
(This would power about 100 million homes!!)
So practice energy conservation and don't buy Sony !
Gee! It looks like Sony will need to pay all its
REVENUE to Consumer who buy CD to compensate them for the electricity used!
The Japenese are making great efforts to reduce energy demand at home. Why is Sony trying to get
everyone else to waste more power?
So in summary - if you buy the CD and you want, you can, with difficulty and waste of your time and money and energy,
get the software removed - but you can't play the CD.
Better not to buy it in the first place
--- save yourself the frustration!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Too little, too late...
What a Loser ...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A rootkit for your brain
http://www.mainichi-msn.co.jp/today/news/20051112k0000m040160000c.html
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: A rootkit for your brain
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not impressed
I think Sony has some really great products but if they can just turn a blind eye or shrug their shoulders at a situation like this I rather not deal with them or their products anytime in the near future. It's a real pity.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Too little too late
so sony stops producing XCP CD's and the following issues remains:
- what about those XCP CD-s in the stores, or all people who bought such CD-s already
- how about still lacking easily accessible safe uninstaller
- how about they still use the SunComm technology which also affects Mac computers
- how about they deny they'll stop working with F4I and will probably resume with a later version of XCP
- last but not least how about BluRay which also includes ridiculous DRM technologies. Sony, waiting for the shit to hit the fan again or you'll act quicker this time?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
I can't help but think this whole fiasco may really backlash against Sony when they introduce their PS3, and consumers are exposed to content that is designed from the ground up to be managed (i.e., licensed by the consumer, not owned). This could be a selling point for the 360. Has Microsoft made any public statement about Sony's rootkit? They have to be cackling and rubbing their hands in glee.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: No Subject Given
I don't think MS really cares whether the DRM is draconian - what bothers them is that the DRM is out of their control and will leave someone other than MS in charge of deciding how it will be abused.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I'll Get an XBOX
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Can we say spy/mal ware
I'd personally rather have m$ controlling my drm, then doing searches to overcome the security become easier, heh he he.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I Think It's Something Else...
My thinking is, they want to avoid this because then they really be in trouble. It would also spell trouble for a lot of other companies who are looking at using similar technology or have different types of DRM. Also, why hasn't the ACLU gotten involved in this? I'm sure they will eventaully, this is the sort of thing they exist for.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]