"Record label Sony BMG Music Entertainment said on Tuesday that it will recall millions of CDs that, if played in a consumer's PC, will expose the computer to serious security risks.
"Sony's copy-protection software was created by British company First 4 Internet. The software is installed on a computer's hard drive when certain Sony compact discs are put in the CD player and the listener accepts a licence agreement.
"The software then hides itself using a controversial programming tool called a "rootkit", which takes over high-level access to some computing functions. The rootkit blocks all but the most technically savvy users from being able to detect its presence."
Silicon.com - http://software.silicon.com/security/0,39024655,39154285,00.htm
Good to hear that Sony are finally doing the right thing and I hope it teaches them something about trying to enforce rights with technology.
Also, did Sony make the users aware of what this software was going to do and that it would pass information to the internet? If not surely this is as much "Unauthorised access to a computer system" as adding ../../../ to a publicly published web address to check for a phishing scam.
Or does the computer misuse act only apply to the little people and not to the megacorps?
