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Trojan Using Sony DRM Rootkit Spotted
Analise writes "The Register reports on the first trojan using Sony's DRM rootkit. A newly discovered variant of the Breplibot trojan makes use of the way Sony's rootkit masks files whose filenames begin with '$sys$'. This means that any files renamed this way by the trojan are effectively invisible to the average user. The malware is distributed via an email supposedly from a reputable business magazing requesting that the businessperson verify his/her attached 'picture' to be used for an upcoming issue. Once the payload is executed, the trojan then installs an IRC backdoor on affected Windows systems."
I am a hardcore libertarian on most political issues. My ideal society has no gun control except on those currently in a mental institute or a prison, almost no taxes, little regulation, nearly absolute property rights (including an elimination of eminent domain in most cases) and many of the other things you'd associate with the libertarian philosophy. I even support the RIAA suing the hell out of thousands of file sharers because I've lost all sympathy for people who want music but aren't willing to *gasp* pay for it.
What I cannot support is the poorly veiled vigilantism that passes for the concept of "self-help" in IP circles. It is not the same as sitting on your porch with a shotgun when looters are running rampant like in New Orleans, rather it's akin to hiring a private army to go through New Orleans and preemptively shoot anyone that looks like a looter without any sort of governmental or moral authority backing you. This is exactly what you get from that concept and it should now become apparent to everyone but the most academic copyright expansionists that "self-help" is anathema to a society that values the rule of law and private property rights.
It's also ironic that many supporters of this idea are enamored with John Locke who would have had a raving shit fit if someone tried to tie classical liberalism and "self-help." The very point of establishing a government in the first place according to classical liberal theory is "to make all men bound to one law." "Self-help," in liberal terms, is the opposite because it makes as Locke would have said, "every man a law unto himself."
Then again this is what happens when people limit themselves to voting for the corporatist party (Republicans) versus the socialist party (Democrats). Either way you get a system where big institutions are allowed to become laws unto themselves. *Cue some leftist to come tell me how socialism works, how no American understands Real Socialism(tm) and why Capitalism is absolutely identical in practice to Italian Fascism*
Click here or a puppy gets stomped!
Friends, gather up all of your Sony-branded electronics and join me, IN A PUBLIC BURNING!!!
End transmission.
This is a perfect example of left-wing extremism. I say that I want almost no taxes, virtually no regulation and private property rights that are nearly absolute, and this is the natural reaction of a lot of leftists to a libertarian statement of principle. It perfectly presents the false dichotomy inherent in left-wing thought: either we have a thorough and invasive government that taxes heavily, regulates heavily and on the surface keeps society moving smoothly, or we end up like a third world hell hole. Let's not forget that many of the problems in Africa can be traced back to the left-wing governments of Europe, such as France's whose enlightened elite saw fit to send in the foreign legion to fire on both rebel AND GOVERNMENT troops in the Ivory Coast not that long ago.
The very concept of nearly absolute property rights for all of society implies a government strong enough to keep the stronger members of society from taking the property of the weak, and that includes preventing yuppie scumbag white left-liberals from scheming up eminent domain abuse to help those "poor proles" in places like New London, Conn. The leftist response to Kelo, which was a blatant abuse of the weaker members of society was summed up by Nancy Pelosi's jubilant statement, "it was as if God has spoken." Leftist-leaning governments in the United States have systematically failed to protect life, liberty and property because the pursue some sort of social agenda.
And when those failed priorities of the leftist governments come home to roost, look at France for a good example of what to expect.
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So you're saying that this program is comparable to crimes against humanity? Seriously, you need a healthy sense of perspective. A healthy sense, not too much, mind.
The engineers, I'm sure, were given no real choice in the matter.
Oh, somebody put a gun to their heads?
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."