Sony DRM-Rootkit Saga - Part XIII

[fitbabits]

Hold on to your hats (and data) - Sony BMG is releasing a new uninstaller for the DRM RootKit problem!

USA Today (http://www.usatoday.com) has the details (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/computersecurity/2005-12-04-sony-cd-flap_x.htm).

On Nov. 18, the label said that it planned to release an updated virus-free uninstall program. Almost three weeks later, that program is scheduled to be released Monday on Sony BMG's website. Many of the infected CDs are still in record stores.

"I could write the uninstall program in one day," says Mark Russinovich, the blogger who first brought the world's attention to the problem CDs.
Bagsy not being first in line to try this!

And why doesn't Russinovich write and distribute the uninstaller?

[Evil_SPanKY]

/Nelson HAHA!

[Nite_Moogle]

And why doesn't Russinovich write and distribute the uninstaller?

Because then Sony would have said "here, use this uninstaller if you think it's a problem" and the outlash from the rest of the world would have been lessened. Sony needs to fix its own damn problems.

Also, uninstalling the rootkit without Sony permission is technically a violation of the DMCA.

[ezra]

The other day in the HMV I work at, some lady tried to find one of the albums that's been recalled as a result of this. Who would have thought something I read on the internets would have real life consequences in my day to day life?

Anyways, dick move by Sony.

[fitbabits]

Because then Sony would have said "here, use this uninstaller if you think it's a problem" and the outlash from the rest of the world would have been lessened. Sony needs to fix its own damn problems.

Also, uninstalling the rootkit without Sony permission is technically a violation of the DMCA.
I know, I was trying to be the Devil's Advocate! :)

[peeweejd]

I wonder if it installs something else as a replacement. Ya know how gator/claria is not "spyware" or "malware" its "adware". Whatever this is wont be called a "virus" it will be an infection or something.

[agentgray]

Hmm. Will the user still have to jump through a million fricken' hoops and sign up to Sony's marketing lists to get it (like the last one)?

I want a 72 point link right on all their homepages and online stores, right square in the center of the page. I also want big orange stickers to put on all their CDs still on the shelves.

"Sony can die of ghonorrea and rot in hell. Cookie?"

Disclaimer: There is now no single product, device, CD, or movie in my house from Sony. I know that might be a lot (Spider-man movies! ack!), but screw them. I want compensation. It cost my company over $10,000 and a week of my time.

[spacerat100]

how dumb can a company be to make any kind of software and not have an uninstaller standing by

[spacerat100]

Hmm. Will the user still have to jump through a million fricken' hoops and sign up to Sony's marketing lists to get it (like the last one)?

I want a 72 point link right on all their homepages and online stores, right square in the center of the page. I also want big orange stickers to put on all their CDs still on the shelves.

"Sony can die of ghonorrea and rot in hell. Cookie?"

Disclaimer: There is now no single product, device, CD, or movie in my house from Sony. I know that might be a lot (Spider-man movies! ack!), but screw them. I want compensation. It cost my company over $10,000 and a week of my time.

While I have not thrown away my sony products I have not purchased anything else from them. Given that pretty much all my friends look to me as the tech and now none of them buy sony as well I'm feelin pretty good about it

[Knuckles T15]

To answer the reporter, it's most likely because Sony would sue the man for making a workaround for their antipiracy measures. It IS illegal, sadly.

[Reanimated]

California + Texas ftw.

[t3g]

Hey guess what Sony? I haven't bought a CD in years and I do not plan to!

*snuggles BitComet (http://www.bitcomet.com) and mininova (http://www.mininova.org/cat/5)*

[Swick]

Hey guess what Sony? I haven't bought a CD in years and I do not plan to!

*snuggles BitComet (http://www.bitcomet.com) and mininova (http://www.mininova.org/cat/5)*
Well, then, you're a jackass. Personally, I like supporting the artists that I enjoy listening to. I'm not saying that I don't download a lot of music, but I always pay for the stuff I like - from the artist's website, if possible, since I listen to a lot of independent bands. It gets around the middleman.

Back on topic: This whole mess has been ridiculous. We'll see how this new uninstaller goes, but really - even if it doesn't work, will the masses it's affecting even care?

[AntB]

/Starts flamewar.


I download music because music is too expensive and i still think I have the right to listen to my favorite artists. That's why I stole my lamborghini. And my boat. And all of my games and candy.





/Downloads all of his music anyway.
//Poor HS student.
///Does not own a Lamborghini. Or a boat. I pay for my PS2 games.
////Hugs Resident Evil 4.

[lpmiller]

Personally, I like supporting the artists that I enjoy listening to

then go to their concerts and buy their teeshirts, cause they ain't getting dick on album sales.

But to answer the question, i'm sure mark didn't feel liking offering support for an uninstaller, or violating DRM.

[superherotaco]

then go to their concerts and buy their teeshirts, cause they ain't getting dick on album sales.

But to answer the question, i'm sure mark didn't feel liking offering support for an uninstaller, or violating DRM.

Great point, buying albums basically just supports the retailer of the CD and the CD production, and the variety of middle men in between. That said I still do buy CDs, but that's more of an asthetic thing, I like to be able to pop open a CD case and see all the lyrics, "personal" notes by the band, or just the artwork on the CD rather than having a grayish CDR that just has their name written with a sharpie.

[icronic]

then go to their concerts and buy their teeshirts, cause they ain't getting dick on album sales.

You're absolutely right in some respects. Bands do make far more money off shirt sales than anything else, however, in order to sell shirts, your music must be able to reach people's ears. For that you need songs on the radio, and cds to be released. Unless you plan to pay for that yourself you're going to need a record label to foot the studio and production costs. If you're cds don't happen to sell for whatever reason why on earth would a label continue to produce further cds. They won't. Then the music won't reach the public, people won't come to see them play, and they won't be selling any shirts.

Honestly I'm all for downloading cds, most of what comes out now is purely crap anyway. But if it's good, buy the damn thing. People claim they don't because the band doesn't get the money, and the studios are evil and all that, and sure it's true, but even if it doesn't make a band money directly, it does keep them alive by making it possible to continue making their music. I've heard about a million other reasons not to buy cds lately, the only one that's even remotely vaild to me is this insane copy protection stuff as it's particularily infuriating, but even then there are thing's like Itunes.

[Speed_D]

Or support bands that self-publish or use indy labels if you really care that much.

Overall, I just remember that the band CHOSE their label. No one forced them to sign that contract. So when I buy an album and the band gets a penny, that's their fault, not mine.

[icronic]

Or support bands that self-publish or use indy labels if you really care that much.

Overall, I just remember that the band CHOSE their label. No one forced them to sign that contract. So when I buy an album and the band gets a penny, that's their fault, not mine.

Chose there label? Hardly... It's a tough buisness, especially if you want to deviate from the general formula that most top 40 groups use. There really is no choice in the matter, you take what you can get, and you should be counting yourself lucky even then. With record labels blaming piracy for a decrease in sales they're also taking less risks in signing groups.

Sure indie labels work, but I can almost guarantee that anyone working under an indie label is also working at their local supermarket to make ends meet and pay the rent for their basement suite.

But why support Indie or self-produced bands specifically? It makes no sense, why not support whatever happens to fit whatever you qualify as good music?

[Magnanimous Gnome]

I sold my Sony WEGA to my dad yesterday so that I wouldn't have the hull it up to Minneapolis with me. The thing weighs nearly 200lbs, and I'm not that strong of a guy. Anyway, I'll definitely be replacing it with something not made by Sony. I doubt I'll buy many Sony products in the future either. Most of their hardware is overpriced and poorly made anyway, and this whole rootkit shite just gives me another reason.

[Speed_D]

But why support Indie or self-produced bands specifically? It makes no sense, why not support whatever happens to fit whatever you qualify as good music?
Well, my point was that if being on a major was so crappy, bands wouldn't sign the contracts. They are getting *something* out of it (mainly, exposure), even if it isn't much money from album sales.

I'm not some big anti-RIAA activist -- if I like music, I buy the CD. I tell my friends. If the band is on an indy label, so much the better. But I'm not going to run away on some Slashdot-ish boycott.

Side note: even though it is easily avoidable, the drm/rootkit stuff is offensive enough that I would probably not buy CDs from Sony.

[Kadoo]

I'd Mark doesn't want to get invovled in this mess anymore then he is.
It's one thing to point out something is wrong with something it's another thing to right software to fix this and release this to the world.
If Mark released an uninstaller and it unintentionally messed up some peoples computers then Mark would end up getting sued.

hats off to mark