SonyBMG to Remove Virus Writer Tool From CD Copy-Protection

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 2, 2005 - 4:06am.

San Francisco - SonyBMG and First 4 Internet, a company providing CD copy-protection technology to the major record label, are now working with antivirus firms to eliminate the use of a virus writer technique that hid their anti-piracy software deep within a computer's operating system, CNET News.com reported on Wednesday. After a blog posting on Monday revealed that a "rootkit" was being installed when users put SonyBMG CDs in their PCs, several computer security firms noted that virus writers could potentially use the record label's anti-piracy tool to hide a virus on a user's computer. The rootkit was used in First 4 Internet CD copy-protection embedded on SonyBMG albums for artists including Van Zant and My Morning Jacket. A patch that eliminates the rootkit will be included in automatic security updates provided by antivirus companies, and also through SonyBMG's website.
http://tinyurl.com/behhm (CNET)
http://www.first4internet.co.uk
http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/form8.html