Evil Sony Recalls 5 Million CDs

I'm a Sony fan, but their recent actions can only be described as "Evil" - with a capital E.

Sony released about 5 million CDs, that they are now recalling, which contain copy protection software that can be accurately described as spyware as well as a rootkit. These include CDs with music from Neil Diamond, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin and many others.

Most everyone has heard of spyware. I define a rootkit as software that takes over control of a computer and "cloaks" or hides itself. Rootkits are used by criminals and hackers - I know of no other use. Sony's act is criminal and is being prosecuted in at least one jurisdiction so far.

This rootkit automatically installed itself on computers of purchasers of these CDs and exposed the infected machines to numerous problems, including (other) hacker attacks and the machine itself failing.

It a bizarre twist of Sony's incompetence, apparently there are copyright violations in Sony's rootkit itself, as it allegedly includes code they have no license or right to use.

The best writeup I've seen, not surprisingly, is on Bruce Schneiers weblog.