Sony spyware hits home
EFF has released a list of CDs known to have Sony’s deadly rootkit DRM technology - including The Bad Plus, Neil Diamond, Our Lady Peace, etc. Basically, in order to play or copy the disc, Sony installs spyware on your machine that opens a back door for hackers.
If you have one of these CDs, and you have a Windows PC, you’re probably already screwed just like me (oh, and it’s undeletable - THANK SONY!). I’ll be reformatting my hard drive this weekend thanks to Trey Anastasio’s Shine, which I could’ve downloaded (illegally) for free but wanted to support the artist. I’ll think twice next time.
List of albums with spyware HERE, and please note how ironic some of these album titles are considering their content (Healthy in Paranoid Times, The Invisible Invasion, Suspicious Activity).
Wondering if there’s enough of us in MN that have been affected. I know Mpls attorney Jim Vander Linden filed one suit today. Class action lawsuits have already been filed in NY and LA, but I’m not really up for shelling out any money on top of the effort to get my computer reformatted.
Updated link HERE
Update:
Some local heroes at Dragonfly Networks are circling the wagons for those Minnesotans affected by Sony’s spyware CDs. You can contact them at SettleUpSony.com.
Related posts:
Supposedly Microsoft is adding Sony’s DRM rootkit to the spyware removed by their anti-spyware program. I seem to remember that Microsoft had Microsoft programs showing up as spyware when they first brought out the spyware removal tool, so I’m not sure I’d use that to get it off my computer.
Apparently Sony has another (different) program being installed on MACs as well…
Apparently even the online uninstaller program leaves your machine vulnerable (a story on NPR this morning said it actually leaves bigger holes!). One guy from Boing Boing had his entire D:/ drive erased by the uninstallation program. I’ve called the 800#, sent e-mails and even e-mailed some Sony higher-ups directly. Nothing. I got a note back saying my comment about reporting them to the FTC constituted a legal threat. I guess they’re asking for it. Meanwhile my computer’s RAM is filled up and McAffee is going crazy.