Our Right to Protect Madonna Extends to Destroying Your Computer
Oh I do so enjoy it when the ridiculous attempts to "protect" music results in the industry looking stupid and inept.
It's been reported that on at least 20 Sony/BMG music CDs, a secret computer program was hidden. When the CD was placed in your computer, the program would install and prevent you from copying that disc more times than Sony deemed you should. Note that this is all done without the knowledge of the consumer.
It turns out that this spyware scheme opened your computer up to security holes that allowed other computers to maliciously take control of your system. This was eventually discovered and Sony/BMG was forced to apologize and offer a solution. (Note: Attempts to remove their program yourself could result in the PC's CD player becoming inactive.)
So this wonderful fix involved sending you to a website where a program would be download and remove the harmful spyware. Well guess what? THAT spyware scheme just opened your system up to even more problems by enabling almost any website with malicious code to take control of your system through your browser.
According to tonight's newscast, Sony/BMG has apologized that "some users experienced difficulties" but defended their rights to protect their music. I imagine the apology did NOT go like this:
"We at Sony/BMG apologize that CD music purchasers are smarter than our high-powered programmers believed and that our plot was discovered. We also apologize that some users felt the need to exercise their rights to keep their computers spyware free and tried to disable our hard work. Serves them right if their players no longer work. At least they won't be loading anymore iPods with Sony/BMG music.
Further, we apologize that our laughable solution to the problem allowed other free-thinking spyware providers and system hackers in China and Germany the right to access your computer. We really don't care what they do to your computer as long as they can't access our music stored on your system. Come to think of it, since we already trashed your CD player, that shouldn't be a problem.
Fuck you all. Long live Menudo. Love, Sony/BMG"
It has also been announced that in 2006, all Sony/BMG discs will contain copy protection. Merry Christmas.
I understand that piracy = bad blah blah blah and that Sting barely makes enough money to live on blah blah blah but you when you cross the road and become a spyware provider then I'm done with sympathy. I spend probably an hour a month stripping spyware out of my system, dealing with emails filled with viruses and managing a popup blocker. I'm sick of it.
I do not purchase music nor do I download it. Really, music just isn't a big part of my life that isn't already playing on the radio. Now that I have to wonder what hidden little surprises they're including on that new disc, I doubt I'll change my buying habits.
Reap what you sow Sony. I hope your bottom line reflects your contempt for your users.
It's been reported that on at least 20 Sony/BMG music CDs, a secret computer program was hidden. When the CD was placed in your computer, the program would install and prevent you from copying that disc more times than Sony deemed you should. Note that this is all done without the knowledge of the consumer.
It turns out that this spyware scheme opened your computer up to security holes that allowed other computers to maliciously take control of your system. This was eventually discovered and Sony/BMG was forced to apologize and offer a solution. (Note: Attempts to remove their program yourself could result in the PC's CD player becoming inactive.)
So this wonderful fix involved sending you to a website where a program would be download and remove the harmful spyware. Well guess what? THAT spyware scheme just opened your system up to even more problems by enabling almost any website with malicious code to take control of your system through your browser.
According to tonight's newscast, Sony/BMG has apologized that "some users experienced difficulties" but defended their rights to protect their music. I imagine the apology did NOT go like this:
"We at Sony/BMG apologize that CD music purchasers are smarter than our high-powered programmers believed and that our plot was discovered. We also apologize that some users felt the need to exercise their rights to keep their computers spyware free and tried to disable our hard work. Serves them right if their players no longer work. At least they won't be loading anymore iPods with Sony/BMG music.
Further, we apologize that our laughable solution to the problem allowed other free-thinking spyware providers and system hackers in China and Germany the right to access your computer. We really don't care what they do to your computer as long as they can't access our music stored on your system. Come to think of it, since we already trashed your CD player, that shouldn't be a problem.
Fuck you all. Long live Menudo. Love, Sony/BMG"
It has also been announced that in 2006, all Sony/BMG discs will contain copy protection. Merry Christmas.
I understand that piracy = bad blah blah blah and that Sting barely makes enough money to live on blah blah blah but you when you cross the road and become a spyware provider then I'm done with sympathy. I spend probably an hour a month stripping spyware out of my system, dealing with emails filled with viruses and managing a popup blocker. I'm sick of it.
I do not purchase music nor do I download it. Really, music just isn't a big part of my life that isn't already playing on the radio. Now that I have to wonder what hidden little surprises they're including on that new disc, I doubt I'll change my buying habits.
Reap what you sow Sony. I hope your bottom line reflects your contempt for your users.
posted by Mkae at
6:57 PM
2 Comments:
Don't forget that there are already viruses "in the wild" that take advantage of the initial security hole that you get when you use one of these infected CDs. Any virus or malware can easily hide on your system if you are affected by the Sony Security Hole (tm) as long as the virus/malware names their files in a certain way. Some people are even installing the security hole intentionally and using it to get around loggers like World of Warcraft's Warden software.
Also, your imagined apology doesn't seem that much more outrageous to me than the stuff they've actually said.
In some sort of eff you trifecta, (in which the first two are the malware and then the bigger malware installation once you try their "remover") Sony also applied for a patent that would allow them to use a system on game discs that would lock them onto a specific console. Once you put a disc in your console, you would never be able to play it on another console. This means no renting, no loaning games, no resale of games, and all your games break if your console breaks and you have to replace it. They've since denied that they intend to include this "functionality" in PS3 discs, but raise your hand if you trust Sony at this point.
It goes without saying that numerous people have called for Sony boycotts. I meant to do a blog entry on it myself but I have yet to do so. I'll leave any participation in a boycott as an exercise for the reader. It's sort of a bitch for me; Sony/BMG publishes a lot of great performances of classical music, and I'm about to buy several CDs for use in the Labor/Delivery room. I don't think I'll be buying any Sony stuff, though, even if that's the only way to get good singers or orchestras.
In short (too late): eff you, Sony.
By
Kathy, at 11:38 AM
ANother reason not to buy Madonna CDs.
Not that I needed one really.
By
Trundling Grunt, at 5:08 PM
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