Thanks for posting this, Doug. Since the original posting I have checked numerous CDs for any evidence of this - or any other - software that is not identified on either the disk or the packaging. Luckily, I have found no evidence of this particular horror - but then I'm also not meant to!!
If anybody knows of a list of such CDs being available either now or in the future please take the trouble to post a link to it. Thanks in advance & regards, Alastair. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Doug Hamilton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "RBG7-L Mailing List" <[email protected]> Sent: Monday, November 14, 2005 9:37 AM Subject: [RBG7-L] - Sony followup - Copy protection temporarily suspended > This is a followup to a several posts in the past week regarding Sony's > stealth installation of root-kit software from audio CDs to prevent > piracy. I realize this is off-topic but feel it's a noteworthy followup, > especially if you deal with PCs that may play audio CDs. > Doug > > Sony BMG suspends copy-protection software > >By Paul Taylor in New York > >Published: November 11 2005 20:31 | Last updated: November 11 2005 20:31 > >> > Sony BMG, the joint venture record label, was on Friday forced into an > embarrassing climbdown over its use of copy-protection technology on > music CDs that exposed some PC users to hackers. > > The company said it would “temporarily suspend” use of the controversial > software and apologised to PC users for “possible inconvenience” it may > have caused. > > The turnaround came after several PC security firms identified a > “Trojan“ e-mail virus designed to exploit software that some of Sony > BMG's music CDs install on their owners' computers when played. > > The copy protection software dubbed “XCP“ developed by UK-based > First4Internet, limits the number of copies that can be made from the > original CD. It is designed to deter “casual piracy“ - typically, > friends copying each other's music CDs. > > Sony BMG, whose recording stars include Celine Dion, Mariah Carey and > Destiny's Child, is believed to have installed XCP on millions of CDs > since it began using the software earlier this year. > > On Friday, Sony BMG, which faces a number of lawsuits in the US related > to the use of the software, acknowledged for the first time that it > could render PC users vulnerable to attack. > > “We are aware that a computer virus is circulating that may affect > computers with XCP content protection software,” the company said, > adding that the software has been included on a limited number of Sony > BMG titles, but emphasising, “This potential problem has no effect on > the use of these discs in conventional, non-computer-based, CD and DVD > players.” > > In response to the virus attacks, the company said it had provided a > software “patch“ to all major anti-virus companies and to the general > public. The patch protects PC users against the virus, identified by > Kaspersky, the Russian PC security firm and by UK-based Sophos. > > “We deeply regret any possible inconvenience this may cause,” Sony BMG > said, adding that it stood by its content-protection technology as “an > important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of > our artists“. The company said: “Nonetheless, as a precautionary > measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs > containing XCP technology. We also intend to re-examine all aspects of > our content protection initiative to be sure that it continues to meet > our goals of security and ease of consumer use.” > > Sony BMG has still not identified which of its music CDs contain the > software. Earlier this week, however, the Electronic Frontier > Foundation, a US-based consumer advocacy group, identified at least 19 > Sony BMG music CDs that the group claims install the software when > played on a PC. > > Critics, including the EFF, claim the software also slows down PCs and > makes them more susceptible to crashes and third-party attacks. “Since > the program is designed to hide itself, users may have trouble > diagnosing the problem,” the EFF said. > > Find this article at: > http://news.ft.com/cms/s/018223e4-52f0-11da-8d05-0000779e2340,ft_acl=,s01=1.html > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.0/167 - Release Date: 11/11/2005 > > -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.1.362 / Virus Database: 267.13.0/167 - Release Date: 11/11/2005
