SonyMusic Hacks Computers! Call Your Local Paper!

Here's an interesting account from Sysinternals detailing how Mark Russovich discovered a rootkit after a seemingly innocuous install of a Sony Music copy-protected CD. To date the music industry has attempted various schemes to limit mp3 encoding by consumers but none have been so onerous as to hijack your computer. Rootkits, in general, are popular trojan horses which can provide themselves administrative control of your machine without your detection. While this particular rootkit is not as extreme as rootkits can become, these types of trojans can lead to immeasurable damage if used for nefarious purpose.

On one hand there is honest protection of your valuable assets. But this clearly crosses that line. What common sense principle would lead your business to illegal activity? Computers are important personal property, and it's your honest customers that will be affected by this. Those who trade the non-authorized files will continue unabated. Sony Music is acknowledging that this rootkit has been used on CDs in 2005 and obviously feels no shame in hacking their customers computers with their "sterile burning" system.

Sony Music has crossed the line with this latest tactic and consumers need more exposure to these issues. While the tech community is up in arms, will the mainstream press publish these reports? If shown the potential damage Sony Music's aggressive tactics may cause, consumers may be startled and gravely upset by Sony's breach of trust. I'm sending letters to various local editors with the hope to raise awareness since I believe old fashioned paper gets better results than an Internet blog. Hopefully some folks will see this post and try to do the same in their own locales...