One of the worlds largest music labels, Sony BMG, has stopped producing CDs that contain XCP copy protection following criticism. It emerged that the XCP DRM used similar cloaking techniques to rootkits, which are often used by virus writers to hide malicious software in the Windows operating system to avoid detection. Sony still defended its right to ensure that consumers cannot make illegal copies of their music CDs but said it will stop making XCP protected CDs as a precautionary measure.
"We also intend to re-examine all aspects of our content protection initiative to be sure that it continues to meet our goals of security and ease of consumer use," the company said in a statement. Anti-virus companies have since blacklisted the XCP copy protection and it has been labeled by many as spyware due to the complications in detecting and removing it. To make matters worse, a trojan that takes advantage of the file hiding techniques surfaced last week in an email attachment, and at least one variant has also been reported.
About 20 popular music titles, such as a release by Van Zant, are protected with the XCP technology. However, Mark Russinovich who originally exposed the methods used by XCP, is unimpressed with Sony's timing. "This is a step they should have taken immediately," he commented. He pointed out that Sony did not admit to any wrong doing and didn't promise not to use similar techniques in future.
Source:
USA Today
Thanks to borhan9, dkbaked, Gerrard and jimmymac for News Submissions.
About 20 popular music titles, such as a release by Van Zant, are protected with the XCP technology. However, Mark Russinovich who originally exposed the methods used by XCP, is unimpressed with Sony's timing. "This is a step they should have taken immediately," he commented. He pointed out that Sony did not admit to any wrong doing and didn't promise not to use similar techniques in future.
Source:
USA Today
Thanks to borhan9, dkbaked, Gerrard and jimmymac for News Submissions.
