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Sony Audio CDs Infect User’s PC

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Written by Peter Carmel
Tuesday, 22 November 2005
In an apparent attempt to thwart the so-called illegal copying of music CDs, it has recently been learned that Sony-BMG has been releasing some titles with copy protection software that could easily be described as spy ware. The CD boxes state in small letters merely that the titles are “content protected”. Unknown to the consumer, the CDs will install software on any Windows PC that is set to “auto run” the CD when inserted into the drive. A list of known affected titles can be found at the end of this article. While the exact details of the nature of the software is unclear, the mere fact that ANY software is installed without the user’s knowledge raises serious privacy issues. According to Computer Associates, the software spies on users, sending IP addresses and listening habits back to Sony. Advocates of consumer rights have complained that the spy ware slows down computers and exposes them to security holes. In addition, the spy ware does not allow music to be converted for use with Ipods, a clear jab at Apple which is viewed as a competitor to Sony. Sony predictably has recently denied any wrongdoing. This is a calculated legal position because of a pending lawsuit in California filed by consumer advocates intent on protection of consumer rights and privacy. However, apparantly due to the lawsuit, Sony said recently that they will suspend use of software that installs on consumers’ computers. Sony had stated earlier that in 2006, they intend to have all their major titles copy protected. Our advice to PC owners is to disable the “auto run” feature on your PC before attempting any fair use operations on the Sony spy ware CDs. Complete details can be found at the Computer Associates website or by following this link: http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/collateral.aspx?cid=76351 The following titles are known to be affected by the Sony spy ware scheme. If you have inserted any of these titles into your PC for ANY reason, your computer is likely infected with the Sony spy ware. For more detailed information on how to remove the Sony spy ware, use the following link: http://www3.ca.com/securityadvisor/pest/pest.aspx?id=453096363 Trey Anastasio, Shine (Columbia) Celine Dion, On ne Change Pas (Epic) Neil Diamond, 12 Songs (Columbia) Our Lady Peace, Healthy in Paranoid Times (Columbia) Chris Botti, To Love Again (Columbia) Van Zant, Get Right with the Man (Columbia) Switchfoot, Nothing is Sound (Columbia) The Coral, The Invisible Invasion (Columbia) Acceptance, Phantoms (Columbia) Susie Suh, Susie Suh (Epic) Amerie, Touch (Columbia) Life of Agony, Broken Valley (Epic) Horace Silver Quintet, Silver's Blue (Epic Legacy) Gerry Mulligan, Jeru (Columbia Legacy) Dexter Gordon, Manhattan Symphonie (Columbia Legacy) The Bad Plus, Suspicious Activity (Columbia) The Dead 60s, The Dead 60s (Epic) Dion, The Essential Dion (Columbia Legacy) Natasha Bedingfield, Unwritten (Epic) Ricky Martin, Life (Columbia) (labeled as XCP, but, oddly, our disc had no protection) Advocate
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 04 July 2007 )