Sony helps hackers

Not all people dislike Sony for including a hidden rootkit (named RING0) on some of their copy protected music CD:s. Pepole trying to cheat in the online role playing game World of Warcraft are happy that RING0 helps them to hide their cheating programs from the monitoring software that Blizzard included in their game. As an honest WoW player, I would just like to say "Thank you, Sony".

Sony still refuses to admit that their rootkit is a security risk and that putting RING0 on their music CD:s was wrong. Meanwhile we can start guessing what the next illegal/immoral/irritating thing coming out of creative use of RING0 will be?

Sony offers: security threat

Just having submitted my previous post about Sony, I saw that Secunia has put the rootkit (that secretly installs when playing a Sony copy protected music CD on your computer) on their list of security threats.

I particularly like their suggested solution: Use another product.

Sony offers: Buy music CD - Get Free Rootkit

Mark Russinovich writes about how he discovered that a newly bought music CD delivered more than music. The story begins as he discovers a rootkit installed on his computer. It gets more exciting when he CSI-style starts to gather clues taking him closer to the origins of the hidden code.

Apart from being entertaining reading (well, I had fun while reading it) the story tells a lot about Sonys lack of respect for its paying customers. Actions like this may have good intentions but in reality only makes people more reluctant to buy records and more prone to obtain the music other ways. Sony should consider rewarding the people paying for their music instead of punishing them.