5 ms·

Delivered through a rootkit mechanism. DRM solutions are always invasive by necessity, but this was on a whole other level.

charcircuit 3y ago
Since when was an installer a "rootkit mechanism"? It was just a part of the software you installed for playing the CDs. Plenty of legitimate software used installers.
- eddythompson80 3y ago
  It installed itself whether or not you agreed to it, hid the installation from the system, and interfered with CD copying without announcing itself, and had no uninstall. What’s a rootkit again?
  - charcircuit 3y ago
    The XCP software did not install if you didn't agree to the EULA. It interfered with CD copying to prevent unauthorized copies. There was no uninstall because people shouldn't be able to just uninstall it and gain the ability to make unauthorized copies. >What’s a rootkit again? Malware that attains root and maintain it as long as possible.
    - eddythompson80 3y ago
      So a rootkit then.
    - prmoustache 3y ago
      "because people shouldn't be able to just uninstall it " hum " maintain it as long as possible."
- PhasmaFelis 3y ago
  There is no "software you install for playing CDs." Your CD-ROM drive streamed audio directly from the disc to your sound card. Some drives actually had a Play button on the front to start it up without even talking to the OS. If you wanted more control, you used the CD player app that came with your OS. Occasionally you'd get a fancy album with a music video on a data track, or something. But other than that, there was never any legitimate reason for inserting a music CD to install anything.
  - ace2358 3y ago
    I might be remembering the situation wrong, but I think you’re mistaken. Sony made music discs that would fuck your computer up and install software without you knowing or consent. Also in the early days cd drives were wired up to the sound card. But I feel that went away later on with SATA drives and dvd drives. I must say I haven’t see a laptop with a disc drive that worked as you suggest.
    - PhasmaFelis 3y ago
      > Sony made music discs that would fuck your computer up and install software without you knowing or consent. Yes, that is what we are talking about. OP claimed that the Sony malware was "just a part of the software you installed for playing the CDs." I'm pointing out that there was no such legitimate software, and the malware was just malware.
      - charcircuit 3y ago
        The wikipedia page even has a picture of the software I'm referring to. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_roo...
        themoonisachees 3y ago
        The software in the screenshot actually has nothing to do with their rootkit and was not present on the CDs in question. More: this wikipedia article you're using to try to validate your claims that it wasn't a rootkit says it's a rootkit in the first paragraph. It also says the software would install itself even when the EULA was refused, while you claim the opposite. My only question is why are you so vehemently defending Sony's actions? Do you somehow believe that it is a company's right to fuck over your devices security in an attempt at selling more licenses to infinitely-reproducible content? My guess is that you have something to gain from the public perception shifting to "actually this is fine" but i can't put my finger on what.

charcircuit 3y ago

Since when was an installer a "rootkit mechanism"? It was just a part of the software you installed for playing the CDs. Plenty of legitimate software used installers.

eddythompson80 3y ago
It installed itself whether or not you agreed to it, hid the installation from the system, and interfered with CD copying without announcing itself, and had no uninstall. What’s a rootkit again?
- charcircuit 3y ago
  The XCP software did not install if you didn't agree to the EULA. It interfered with CD copying to prevent unauthorized copies. There was no uninstall because people shouldn't be able to just uninstall it and gain the ability to make unauthorized copies. >What’s a rootkit again? Malware that attains root and maintain it as long as possible.
  - eddythompson80 3y ago
    So a rootkit then.
  - prmoustache 3y ago
    "because people shouldn't be able to just uninstall it " hum " maintain it as long as possible."
PhasmaFelis 3y ago
There is no "software you install for playing CDs." Your CD-ROM drive streamed audio directly from the disc to your sound card. Some drives actually had a Play button on the front to start it up without even talking to the OS. If you wanted more control, you used the CD player app that came with your OS. Occasionally you'd get a fancy album with a music video on a data track, or something. But other than that, there was never any legitimate reason for inserting a music CD to install anything.
- ace2358 3y ago
  I might be remembering the situation wrong, but I think you’re mistaken. Sony made music discs that would fuck your computer up and install software without you knowing or consent. Also in the early days cd drives were wired up to the sound card. But I feel that went away later on with SATA drives and dvd drives. I must say I haven’t see a laptop with a disc drive that worked as you suggest.
  - PhasmaFelis 3y ago
    > Sony made music discs that would fuck your computer up and install software without you knowing or consent. Yes, that is what we are talking about. OP claimed that the Sony malware was "just a part of the software you installed for playing the CDs." I'm pointing out that there was no such legitimate software, and the malware was just malware.
    - charcircuit 3y ago
      The wikipedia page even has a picture of the software I'm referring to. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_roo...
      - themoonisachees 3y ago
        The software in the screenshot actually has nothing to do with their rootkit and was not present on the CDs in question. More: this wikipedia article you're using to try to validate your claims that it wasn't a rootkit says it's a rootkit in the first paragraph. It also says the software would install itself even when the EULA was refused, while you claim the opposite. My only question is why are you so vehemently defending Sony's actions? Do you somehow believe that it is a company's right to fuck over your devices security in an attempt at selling more licenses to infinitely-reproducible content? My guess is that you have something to gain from the public perception shifting to "actually this is fine" but i can't put my finger on what.