(US) Sony Audio CDs Install Spyware
http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-rights.html
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342821
It has emerged that the DRM (Digital Rights Management) software included on some new US-released CDs as "copy protection" installs spyware and 'rootkit' software on computers on which the CDs are played, without informing the user, after requiring users playing music to be logged on to Windows with Administrator rights.
The software:
-> Hides itself from users not using specialised security software such as that deployed by the sysinternals blogger.
-> If identified and removed, renders the PC's CD-ROM drive useless by erasing its drivers.
-> Allows any other files with the prefix $sys$ to be hidden on the computer--a potential aid to virus writers.
-> Scans running processes on the system every 2 seconds, consuming almost 2% of CPU cycles on a high-end PC.
-> May also communicate back to Sony information including IP address and ID of CD which installed the software.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=342821
It has emerged that the DRM (Digital Rights Management) software included on some new US-released CDs as "copy protection" installs spyware and 'rootkit' software on computers on which the CDs are played, without informing the user, after requiring users playing music to be logged on to Windows with Administrator rights.
The software:
-> Hides itself from users not using specialised security software such as that deployed by the sysinternals blogger.
-> If identified and removed, renders the PC's CD-ROM drive useless by erasing its drivers.
-> Allows any other files with the prefix $sys$ to be hidden on the computer--a potential aid to virus writers.
-> Scans running processes on the system every 2 seconds, consuming almost 2% of CPU cycles on a high-end PC.
-> May also communicate back to Sony information including IP address and ID of CD which installed the software.