TexasFilly Posted November 11, 2005 Share Posted November 11, 2005 Hackers use Sony BMG to hide on PCs Thu Nov 10, 3:35 PM ET A computer security firm said on Thursday it had discovered the first virus that uses music publisher Sony BMG's (6758.T) controversial CD copy-protection software to hide on PCs and wreak havoc. Under a subject line containing the words "Photo approval," a hacker has mass-mailed the so-called Stinx-E trojan virus to British email addresses, said British anti-virus firm Sophos. When recipients click on an attachment, they install malware, which may tear down a computer's firewall and give hackers access to a PC. The malware hides by using Sony BMG software that is also hidden -- the software would have been installed on a computer when consumers played Sony's copy-protected music CDs. "This leaves Sony in a real tangle. It was already getting bad press about its copy-protection software, and this new hack exploit will make it even worse," said Sophos's Graham Cluley. Later on Thursday, security software firm Symantec Corp. (Nasdaq:SYMC - news) also discovered the first trojans to abuse the security flaw in Sony BMG's copy-protection software. A trojan is a program that appears desirable but actually contains something harmful. Sony BMG's spokesman John McKay in New York was not immediately available to comment. The music publishing venture of Japanese electronics conglomerate Sony Corp. (6758.T) and Germany's Bertelsmann AG (BERT.UL) is distributing the copy-protection software on a range of recent music compact disks (CDs) from artists such as Celine Dion and Sarah McLachlan. When the CD is played on a Windows personal computer, the software first installs itself and then limits the usage rights of a consumer. It only allows playback with Sony software. The software sparked a class action lawsuit against Sony in California last week, claiming that Sony has not informed consumers that it installs software directly into the "roots" of their computer systems with rootkit software, which cloaks all associated files and is dangerous to remove. Sophos said it would have a tool to disable the copy protection software available later on Thursday. Sony BMG made a patch available on its Web site on Tuesday that rids a PC from the "cloaking" element that is part of the copy-protection software, while claiming that "the component is not malicious and does not compromise security." The patch does not disable the copy protection itself. The Sony copy-protection software does not install itself on Macintosh computers or ordinary CD and DVD players. Copyright © 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasFilly Posted November 17, 2005 Author Share Posted November 17, 2005 So what? No one thinks anything about all this? LOL http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,6...tw=wn_tophead_7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelnut Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 There may have not been a lot of comments Texas, as ccleaner have been following this in depth, and a lot of us are members there as well. :hello: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator Tarun Posted November 17, 2005 Administrator Share Posted November 17, 2005 Planet Sony Rootkit Infections: USA Europe Asia DjLizard linked me to these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelnut Posted November 17, 2005 Share Posted November 17, 2005 Tarun, cannot get these links to work. Perhaps they are very busy!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TexasFilly Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 There may have not been a lot of comments Texas, as ccleaner have been following this in depth, and a lot of us are members there as well. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> AWWWWWW well, some people don't even know that CCleaner exists ya know LOL And since I've been here, I don't go to Ccleaner anymore. I'm a LOYAL one :hug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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