Sony recalls millions of copy-protected CDs - silicon.com

"Record label Sony BMG Music Entertainment said on Tuesday that it will recall millions of CDs that, if played in a consumer's PC, will expose the computer to serious security risks.

"Sony's copy-protection software was created by British company First 4 Internet. The software is installed on a computer's hard drive when certain Sony compact discs are put in the CD player and the listener accepts a licence agreement.

"The software then hides itself using a controversial programming tool called a "rootkit", which takes over high-level access to some computing functions. The rootkit blocks all but the most technically savvy users from being able to detect its presence."

Silicon.com

Good to hear that Sony are finally doing the right thing and I hope it teaches them something about trying to enforce rights with technology.

Also, did Sony make the users aware of what this software was going to do and that it would pass information to the internet? If not surely this is as much "Unauthorised access to a computer system" as adding ../../../ to a publicly published web address to check for a phishing scam.

Or does the computer misuse act only apply to the little people and not to the megacorps?

Have an opinion on DRM? Do tell... - silicon.com

"The All Party Parliamentary Internet Group (Apig) is taking a closer look at digital rights management (DRM).

"From now until 21 December Apig is asking anyone with an opinion on DRM and related issues - including companies, industry organisations, academics and individuals - to submit their concerns in writing."

Interestingly there's nothing about this on the APIG website yet (it doesn't seem to have been updated since March) and the request that all opinions have to be in writing rather seems counter to the groups aims. But if they do mean writing as in pen and paper rather than keyboard and email here's the snail mail address:

APIG Secretariat
23 Palace Street
London
SW1E 5HW

For those that want to chance contacting them via that treacherous, new-fangled, internet contaraption here's the Secretariat's email address:

admin@apig.org.uk

Let's hope there's a little more understanding of the technologies and their social impact in the debate...

Microsoft targets Sony copy-protection tool - silicon.com

"To protect Windows users, Microsoft plans to update Windows AntiSpyware and the Malicious Software Removal Tool as well as the online scanner on Windows Live Safety Center to detect and remove the Sony BMG software, the software maker said in its blog."

It's not often I find myself congratulating Microsoft in public, so this may actually be a first. MS have identified that the software Sony use to stop people copying audio CDs may also allow malicious code to run undetected on PCs. No doubt Sony will retaliate, but honestly don't they realise how pointless this code is (not to mention potentially disasterous for your PC). And since anyone who really wants to rip the CD can just plug the output of their CD player into their soundcard Sony aren't stopping copyright infringement (lets call it what it is, in law it's not theft or piracy)
they are just inconveniencing you and I and the punters that actually buy their CDs.

So there you have it - you may actually be more likely to catch a computer virus by playing a legitimately purchased CD than by downloading the tracks from a P2P network. Well done Sony. And well done Microsoft for targeting the pernicious code responsible.

Fitzrovia

Spent the last couple of days in London on the border between Holborn and Campden.

I won a router!!!

OK don't get too excited, it's not for me, but I won a Cisco 2500 router for my network academy today.

I spent the day at the Cisco Academy forum and part of the day was a challenge lab for instructors and students. The top three students won a Linksys wireless router each for themselves whilst the top three instructors won a Cisco router for their academy. I wasn't the fastest, and to be honest thought I was pretty poor after failing to finish in the allotted 20 minutes, but I was actually the third fastest (getting the most done in the 20 minutes)!

Well I nearly fell out of my seat I can tell you.

So I now have to find a place for a the router in our lab rack and then buy some cables for it. Hmmm... now if I just had a budget.