It has been revealed that some Sony Music CDs install a rootkit, a tool used by hackers to hide malicious code on a PC. Sony is using a rootkit to hide DRM files from users so they can’t remove them. The problem is that the rootkit exposes your PC to hackers and will wreck your system if you try to remove it. The record companies have put malicious files on your PC and as this word spread will consumers be afraid to buy CDs?
See also from the theregister.co.uk
Sysinternals’ Mark Russinovich has performed an analysis of the copy restriction measures deployed by Sony Music on its latest CDs: which he bluntly calls a ‘root kit’. Using conventional tools to remove Sony’s digital media malware will leave ordinary users with Windows systems unable to play CDs.While the Sony CDs play fine on Red Book audio devices such as standard consumer electronics CD players, when they’re played on a Windows PC the software forces playback through a bundled media player, and restricts how many digital copies can be made from Windows.
