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Sony BMG Halts Production of "Rootkit" CDs; Microsoft Offers Removal Tool

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 14, 2005 - 7:45am.
New York - Major record label Sony BMG has temporarily halted production of music CDs that include a controversial copy-protection tool that allowed hackers to hide malicious software on PCs and spied on which CDs users listened to. ''We stand by content protection technology as an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists," the label said in a note on its website. ''Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology." The "rootkit" technology in question, developed by U.K.-based First 4 Internet, hides software that prevents users from making unauthorized copies of CDs deep within a PC's operating system, with the unintended effect of enabling virus writers to piggyback their malicious software on the rootkit. Several antivirus firms provided updates that identify or remove the rootkit last week, and now Microsoft has determined that the software is a security risk as well, and will remove the rootkit through an update offered to Windows PC users. Sony has not said whether it will recall CDs containing the rootkit that have already shipped, or provide refunds for those already purchased by consumers. The company also faces a class action lawsuit from consumers with affected computers.
tags: Sony | Microsoft | CD | BMG | Rootkit | Removal Tool |