Sony DRM

[TetsuoShima]

In this post I made some comment about the old Sony DRM. They kind of dismiss it, because it is no longer in use, but there could be thousand or even millions cd's out there with this protection on it! The thought alone makes me sick!

 

Explanation:

 

Read this article to understand what it is they did to your computer! Horrible! Putting multiple files/programs on your computer that create an environment that can be used by anything/anybody and that can't be detected/removed without VERY extensive computer knowledge!

 

They should hang those guys! Nobody messes with my computer, dammit!

 

To compare what they did to filesharing programs:

 

- the court decides that file sharing program developers are responsible for what users use it for, even if it was not designed for illegal use!

-> same reasoning: that frakking company is responsible for any harm that might have come to any computer because of that horrible utility of theirs, even if it wasn't intended to do any harm!

 

Bah! These things SO piss me off!!! :mad:

[MrDad]

Worlds of Warcraft cheaters are now putting it to good use, though, by using it to hide aimbots and other cheats from the Warden. The Warden is Blizzard's program to dectect such cheats by monitoring Windows APIs (BTW, ther's a bit of controversy there also) and by adding $sys$ to the front of any exe's filename, Sony's DRM hides said program From Windows API and anything that uses it to monitor the system.

[Beawulf]

didn't blizzard get in trouble a few years back for including a backdoor in warcraft or was it diablo?

 

 

Sony should be made to recall and replace all the products that had that technology, seeing as there was no warning in the user agreement they denied people the option to say no.

[Beawulf]

There has been a development with this drama for Sony. Three viruses have been discovered on the net that are modifications of sony's antipiracy software.

 

They should be responsible for all damage that occurs as a result.

 

bbs news article

[psheldrake1]

We should be forming a boycott of all sony products. Starting here at Niteshdw. Very few people that own a comp. ever read about companies that they to invade them. They know little or nothing except running a program. Get on as many forums possible and spread the word.

[S0V13T]

didn't blizzard get in trouble a few years back for including a backdoor in warcraft or was it diablo?

quote]

 

I think it was Diablo. A few years back I was a bit of a Diablo 2 player, and there was a boondoggle of sorts over Blizzard detecting and banning people that maphacked.

[TetsuoShima]

Sony is forced, under massive consumer pressure, to get it's sh|t back out of the shelves and even trade media with the drm against media without it.

 

One win for the good guys! :D

 

Just a few days after the decision of the Japanese giant to suspend the production of its CDs that use a controversial copy-protection technology, Sony now says it will pull the albums off store shelves entirely. The record label is also offering to exchange the CDs for non-DRM versions.

 

Anyone who has purchased one of the Sony's 'protected' CDs can exchange the purchase, Sony said. The company added that it would release details of its CD exchange program "shortly."

 

Sony reported that over the past eight months it shipped more than 4.7 million CDs with the so-called XCP copy protection. More than 2.1 million of those discs have been sold.

 

"We share the concerns of consumers regarding discs with XCP content-protected software, and, for this reason, we are instituting a consumer exchange program and removing all unsold CDs with this software from retail outlets," Sony said in a statement. "We deeply regret any inconvenience this may cause our customers."

 

Sony's copy-protection software was created by British company First 4 Internet. The software is installed on a computer's hard drive when certain Sony compact discs are put in the CD player and the listener accepts a license agreement.

 

The software then hides itself using a controversial programming tool called a "rootkit," which takes over high-level access to some computing functions. The rootkit blocks all but the most technically savvy users from being able to detect its presence.

 

Sony has worked with antivirus companies to help their products pierce this veil of invisibility, and has posted a patch on its Web site that will uncloak the hidden software. It also said it would temporarily stop manufacturing discs using the First 4 Internet tools.

 

However, two Princeton researchers have discovered a security flaw in the software provided by Sony to uninstall its controversial DRM.

 

According to the report, when a user fills out the Web-based form to request the download, an ActiveX file called CodeSupport is loaded onto the computer. However, after the user leaves Sony's site, the file is still marked as "safe" for scripting.

 

The result of this error on First 4 Internet and Sony's part is potentially severe. Any site could call the CodeSupport file and ask it to perform functions, such as downloading and installing malicious code. Because the software does not make sure the code it is running actually comes from Sony, it opens the door for anyone to take advantage of an affected system.

 

Sony later replaced that Web-based uninstall tool with one that downloads a program with its own instructions, as opposed to one that accepts instructions from Web sites. The researchers said the new program appeared to be safe.

[Guest c4evap]

Been reading about this for several days now. Microsoft is adding this to their spyware list so it can be removed. I read the article mentioned in the first post and there's a link to a rootkit remover.

 

Here's the link. Just click to download.

 

I'm going to try it out tonight as I have a ton of Sony CDs.

 

c4 B)

[Number1]

i dont really know what it all means but it makes me angry anyway.

 

[thedrtim]

 

They should be responsible for all damage that occurs as a result.

 

 

Yes they damn well should be. But they wont.

 

Its all about power. They have it, you dont. You buy a piece of software and YOU sign the user agreement. The company doesn't.

 

When was the last time you had a successful resolution to a helpdesk inquiry for a piece of commercial software? I am still waiting to hear back from whoever the hell published HL2. I've only been waiting for 9 months!

 

Once they have your money, the software company may as well send you a postcard with the word "LOSER" writ large across the front and "Hey, F*** you. Wev'e got your cash now so why don't you put your head between your legs and wear your A*** as a hat?" written on the back.

 

They would, but they couldn't be bothered.

 

Thats why piracy still exists (at least, so I have heard). Why pay for something that wont work when you can get it for free and still not have it work. At least you get the satisfaction of watching the pirate version frisbie out of your car on the freeway.

 

Lets face, software publishers suck RRRRRRRs