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Hello,
I know that this is the Video list but this might be of interest to
others that are charged with all "media" formats. This message was sent
to the MLA list. I have also attached a couple of links from Electronic
Frontier Foundation that talks about this issue.
George
-------- Original Message --------
> Subject: [ACAT] Sony/BMG CDs may harm your computer
> Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 11:48:40 -0600
> From: Sprochi, Amanda K. <sprochia@health.missouri.edu>
> Reply-To: AUTOCAT <AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU>, "Sprochi, Amanda
> K."
> <sprochia@health.missouri.edu>
> To: AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU
>
> I don't know if anyone has been following this, but for those of
> you who
> have collections with CDs, be aware that there is a potentially fatal
> problem with the new anti-piracy software that comes with new Song/BMG
> titles. These CDs come bundled with their own player, which has to be
> installed in order for the CD to run. This program then limits the
> numberof copies that can be made from the CD to three. However, in
> doing this it
> also installs a rootkit.
>
> Rootkits, according to Mark Russinovich, who writes a computer
> blog, are
> "cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other
> systemobjects from diagnostic and security software, and they are
> usuallyemployed by malware attempting to keep their implementation
> hidden." What
> this rootkit does is actually rewrite parts of the code on your
> OS. Trying
> to delete these files may cripple your system, and may leave it
> vulnerableto other viruses and worms that capitalize on security
> weaknesses in the
> new code. It may also lead to the "Blue Screen of Death" and potential
> loss of data.
>
> Note that nowhere in the licensing agreement we all click without
> readingdoes it say that using the CD will alter your OS or rewrite
> yourcomputer's code. It is also very hard to get the uninstall
> program from
> Sony, and it doesn't seem to work very well if you do get it.
>
> The original problem was noted in Russovich's blog:
> http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital-
> rights.html
>
>
> and its follow-up:
> http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/11/more-on-sony-dangerous-
> decloaking.html
>
>
> It has also been covered by several news outlets and on it
> security
> websites:
> http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/news/article.php/3561181
>
> http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/hackers_raid_so_1.html
> (this has good links to other ariticles as well)
>
> Because libraries buy and circulate CD copies to mulitple users,
> you may
> want to take a look at the CDs in your collection and avoid these.
> Apartfrom the spyware and privacy aspects, this is potentially a
> huge security
> problem, and may actually cause Windows PCs to fail. Caveat emptor.
>
> Amanda Sprochi
> Health Sciences Cataloger
> J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library
> University of Missouri-Columbia
> Health Sciences Center
> One Hospital Drive
> Columbia, MO 65212
> (573) 882-0461
> sprochia@health.missouri.edu
>
> *************************************************************************
-- George D. Oberle III Multi-Media Librarian and History Department Liaison LibrarianGeorge Mason University Libraries 4400 University Dr. MSN 1A6 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 993-9012 goberle@gmu.edu
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Hello,
I know that this is the Video list but this might be of interest to others that are charged with all "media" formats. This message was sent to the MLA list. I have also attached a couple of links from Electronic Frontier Foundation that talks about this issue.
George
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: [ACAT] Sony/BMG CDs may harm your computer Date: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 11:48:40 -0600 From: Sprochi, Amanda K. <sprochia@health.missouri.edu> Reply-To: AUTOCAT <AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU>, "Sprochi, Amanda K." <sprochia@health.missouri.edu> To: AUTOCAT@LISTSERV.BUFFALO.EDU I don't know if anyone has been following this, but for those of you who have collections with CDs, be aware that there is a potentially fatal problem with the new anti-piracy software that comes with new Song/BMG titles. These CDs come bundled with their own player, which has to be installed in order for the CD to run. This program then limits the numberof copies that can be made from the CD to three. However, in doing this it also installs a rootkit. Rootkits, according to Mark Russinovich, who writes a computer blog, are "cloaking technologies that hide files, Registry keys, and other systemobjects from diagnostic and security software, and they are usuallyemployed by malware attempting to keep their implementation hidden." What this rootkit does is actually rewrite parts of the code on your OS. Trying to delete these files may cripple your system, and may leave it vulnerableto other viruses and worms that capitalize on security weaknesses in the new code. It may also lead to the "Blue Screen of Death" and potential loss of data. Note that nowhere in the licensing agreement we all click without readingdoes it say that using the CD will alter your OS or rewrite yourcomputer's code. It is also very hard to get the uninstall program from Sony, and it doesn't seem to work very well if you do get it. The original problem was noted in Russovich's blog: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/10/sony-rootkits-and-digital- rights.html and its follow-up: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/2005/11/more-on-sony-dangerous- decloaking.html It has also been covered by several news outlets and on it security websites: http://www.enterpriseitplanet.com/security/news/article.php/3561181 http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/hackers_raid_so_1.html (this has good links to other ariticles as well) Because libraries buy and circulate CD copies to mulitple users, you may want to take a look at the CDs in your collection and avoid these. Apartfrom the spyware and privacy aspects, this is potentially a huge security problem, and may actually cause Windows PCs to fail. Caveat emptor. Amanda Sprochi Health Sciences Cataloger J. Otto Lottes Health Sciences Library University of Missouri-Columbia Health Sciences Center One Hospital Drive Columbia, MO 65212 (573) 882-0461 sprochia@health.missouri.edu *************************************************************************
-- George D. Oberle III Multi-Media Librarian and History Department Liaison Librarian George Mason University Libraries 4400 University Dr. MSN 1A6 Fairfax, VA 22030 (703) 993-9012 goberle@gmu.edu--Boundary_(ID_cMTU+zsFNvNxKjfqTl1ztA)--
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<title>EFF: An Open Letter to Sony-BMG</title>
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<div id="crumb"> > <a href="http://www.eff.org/">Home</a> > <a href="/IP/">IP</a> > <a href="/IP/DRM">DRM</a> > <a href="/IP/DRM/Sony-BMG">Sony-BMG</a><span class="crumbspacer"> </span> </div>
<div id="featuretext">
<h1>An Open Letter to Sony-BMG</h1>
<p> To: Andrew Lack, CEO of Sony-BMG<br /> Cc: Rolf Schmidt-Holtz, Chairman of the Board, Sony-BMG<br /> Cc: Howard Stringer, CEO of Sony Entertainment<br /> Cc: Gunter Thielen, CEO of Bertelsmann AG<br /> </p>
<p> Dear Mr. Lack, </p>
<p> The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has viewed with growing concern the revelations regarding the XCP Content Protection Software and the SunnComm MediaMax software that your company has chosen to include on at least two dozen of your music CD releases. We are also concerned by your company's limited response to the concerns of your customers and the computer security community. </p>
<p> As has been documented by independent researcher Mark Russinovich and many others, the XCP software appears to have been designed to have many of the qualities of a "rootkit." It was written with the intent of concealing its presence and operation from the owner of the computer, and once installed, elements of the software run continuously -- even when no Sony-BMG music CD is in use. It provides no clear uninstallation option. Additionally, without notifying users, the software appears to contact a remote machine under your control. The MediaMax software is somewhat different, but similarly has no true uninstall option and an undisclosed ongoing communication from the users’ computer to SunnComm. </p>
<p> You must be aware that the discovery of this software has shocked and angered your customers. Software that deceives the owner of the computer it runs upon and opens that computer up to attacks by third parties may be expected to come from malicious cyber-attacks; it is certainly not expected nor acceptable to be distributed and sold to paying customers by a major music company. Accordingly, EFF welcomes your company's decision to temporarily halt manufacturing CDs with XCP and to reexamine "all aspects" of your "content protection initiative." </p>
<p> But if you truly intend to undo the harm you have caused, your company should immediately and publicly commit to the following additional measures: </p>
<ul> <li> Recall all CDs that contain the XCP and SunnComm MediaMax technology. The recall must include removing all infected CDs from store shelves as well as halting all online sales of the affected merchandise. We understand from a recent New York Times article that well over 2 million infected CDs with the XCP technology are in the marketplace and have yet to be sold. </li>
<li> Remove from all current and future marketing materials statements like that on <a href="http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html">http://cp.sonybmg.com/xcp/english/updates.html</a> that say the cloaking software "is not malicious and does not compromise security." </li>
<li> Widely publicize the potential security and other risks associated with the XCP and SunnComm MediaMax technology to allow the 2.1 million consumers who have already purchased the CDs to make informed decisions regarding their use of those CDs. The publicity campaign should include, at a minimum, issuing a public statement describing the risks and listing every Sony CD, DVD or other product that contains XCP or SunnComm MediaMax. The publicity campaign should be advertised in a manner reasonably calculated to reach all consumers who have purchased the products, in all markets where the CDs have been sold. </li>
<li> Cooperate fully with any interested manufacturer of anti-virus, anti-spyware, or similar computer security tools to facilitate the identification and complete removal of XCP and SunnComm MediaMax from the computers of those infected. In particular, Sony should publicly waive any claims it may have for investigation or removal of these tools under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and any similar laws. </li>
<li> Offer to refund the purchase price of infected CDs or, at the consumer’s election, provide a replacement CD that does not contain the XCP or SunnComm technology. For those consumers who choose to retain infected CDs, develop and make widely available a software update that will allow consumers to easily uninstall the technology without losing the ability to play the CD on their computers. In addition, consumers should not be required to reveal any personally identifying information to Sony in order to access the update, as Sony is currently requiring. </li>
<li> Compensate consumers for any damage to their computers caused by the infected products, including the time, effort, and expenditure required to remedy the damage or verify that their computer systems or networks were or were not altered or damaged by XCP or SunnComm MediaMax products. </li>
<li> Prior to releasing any future product containing DRM technology, thoroughly test the software to determine the existence of any security risks or other possible damages the technology might cause to any user's computer. </li>
<li> Certify in a statement included in the packaging of every CD containing DRM technology that the product does not contain any concealed software such as the XCP rootkit, does not electronically communicate with Sony-BMG or any other party, does not initiate the download of any software update or other data without informed consent of the consumer immediately prior to each communication, can be uninstalled without any need to contact Sony or disclose personally identifying information to anyone, does not present any security risks to any consumer's computer, and will not damage or reduce the performance of the consumer's computer or data in any way. </li>
</ul>
<p> We look forward to hearing that you are in the process of implementing these measures by 9:00am PST on Friday, November 18, 2005. </p>
<p> Sincerely, </p>
<p> Electronic Frontier Foundation </p>
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