Sony halts production of 'rootkit' CDs
After lots of controversy about their rootkit music cds Sony announced today that it will halt the production of rootkit music cds. It seems that consumer and media backlash finally paid off.
First Trojan using Sony DRM spotted
The first trojan using Sony´s rootkit software to hide itself has been discovered by anti-virus companies.
Sony and the rootkit, the story continues
The news spread like fire last week: Sony has a installer on some of their music cd´s that might install a rootkit on customers pc´s if they put them into their personal computer. The rootkit software could not be uninstalled by normal means and has already been used by hackers to hide World of Warcraft cheat scripts from being detected by Blizzards Warden client.
New online proxy.
Here is another of those online proxy sites that allow you to surf without revealing your ip at the destination site. Its available at xanproxy.be
Universal Music Group Music Cds may also install rootkits
And another player joins the rangs of the companies that might install spyware with their Music Cds when you put them into your pc drives. "Fontana Distribution, part of Universal Music Group and distributors for Upstairs Records Inc., are encouraging the independent records labels they distribute to use content protection on their CDs. "Twelve Eighteen", featuring the hit song "Summer Nights", carries the same content protection currently being used by Sony BMG.
John Lopez of Upstairs Records commented: "we are very pleased with the seamless production of the album. The media player on the CD has a good user experience and we intend using the technology on more new releases."
Freeware MyPlanetSoft Anti-Keylogger
Most banks in Europe offer a new service on their internet pages. When a user has to enter his login data he has the option to enter the password using a keypad that is displayed on the screen using a java applet. The user then clicks on the numbers and they appear in the password field. This is done to prevent the keylogging of the password.
The Anti-Keylogger does the same thing, only difference is, that its a tool that is started like every other windows program. After the tool is started you simply use the displayed keys to enter your passwords or other data on websites or even local programs.
Sony music cds might install spyware on your system
A few minutes ago I read a news article written by Brian Krebs who described how some Sony Music Cds try to install a software on pcs that could be labeled as spyware.
It seems that we have reached a new level in the fight between the record companies and its consumers. If you put a music cd in question into your drive a installer will popup. If you agree to install the software you won´t find a uninstall feature anywhere on your pc.
Apparently all Music Cds labeled "Content enhanced & protected" have the installer on the CD, make sure you check this before you buy a cd you would want to hear using your pc.
NSA Operating System Guides
The National Security Agency offers Operating System Guides on their websites. These guides are currently being used throughout the government and by numerous entities as a security baseline their systems.
