Slashdot Mirror
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."
Irregardless of the existence of government, the natural rights of an individual cannot be given away (you can't sell yourself into slavery, you can't tell a higher power that it's ok to kill you). One such right is the right to private property, closed to others' prying eyes or presence.
One great force behind this right is that past acts bear no allowances for future acts. If I let you into my house yesterday, you have no right to be here today. I may contractually allow you to come and go as you please, but I have to willfully sign the contract with witnesses noting the act.
Sony's DRM uses government force (through copyright provisions) to settle its legality. They say that by using their property, you have to permanently give up your natural right to private property (free speech Statists wrongfully call it Right to Privacy). Sony is wrong.
By violating numerous natural rights, Sony has opened itself to a demand for restitution. I wholeheartedly believe that corporate protections are wrong, as is copyright. My solution? Go after Sony through the shareholders directly (they own the business and allowed the breach of a basic human right). Demand restitution for the trojan if you receive it.
Imagine if you buy a Saab and Saab has an agreement stating "If you turn the car on, you allow two Saab employees to ride in your trunk and search your house for proof you might install a non-Saab oil filter." You've signed nothing. The two Saab employees open your house door, take up residence and leave the door wide open. Two typical pro-copyright arguments: You're not allowed to install non-Saab oil filters or how else would Saab make money? Why would they design cars?
This is the problem with copyright. Instead of individuals protecting proprietary information of value (books, music, etc) and producing it in the best way over anyone else (live shows, subscriptions to new music, etc), they say "copy us and government will use force against you."
It's all wrong. Don't publicly say anything valuable to you. Don't think you can come in my home because you did once before. Don't think you can rape me because a note in your pocket says you're allowed to, and I let you in without checking your pockets.
It's not the enginners fault. It's the ones that decided to put it out.
Remember: Sony didn't write the rootkit. They bought it from someone else.
Now, the question is, what department thought it was a good idea? Sales and Marketing? Legal? Somebody had to think it was worth the money...
'Sensible' is a curse word.
I know i should be shocked and offended by retarded attemps at DRM lock-in by Sony... but i can't.
I'm loving this. I just can't wait to see what happens when antivirus/spyware vendors decide to consider the Sony rootkit as an attack vector and remove it accordingly... will it show up as "Sony.CDcopyprotection.malware"? "F4I.XCP.Aurora"? How about the information about it? Will we see legal battles between antivirus vendors and Sony? Class action lawsuits from consumers? I'm already preparing some popcorn for the event!
Oh gimme a break. The media companies are delerious with the power granted them by their whores in Congress. The engineers, I'm sure, were given no real choice in the matter. Remember, it is RIAA, the MPAA and all those sleeze bag politicians who'd sell their own mothers for a little political cash who have produced this abomination. If you want to solve the problem, tell all the people in your district that your congressman is a hooker sucking off the teats of media giants, and tell them to make this kind of behavior an election issue.
The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.
So far, I haven't seen any mention on the mainstream news about this. Maybe because it's too technical, but I think it's because CNN is a company of Time-Warner, and Time-Warner and Sony are fellow MPAA (and/or RIAA?) members. They (CNN) are great about covering the fluff. Count on them to down-play the stuff that hurts their business sleaze.
They say the first thing to go is your penis. Well, it's either that or your brain. I forget which...