I SO NY-d this

Well, more news about the Sony "rootkit" software is out there lately, including some more stuff regarding Sony's official stance as well as consumer and industry reactions.

For those of you not in the know, a Windows software expert as well as FServ, a major anti-virus company have both confirmed that playing a SonyBMG copy-protected music CD on your Windows PC will forcibly install damaging software on your PC without your knowledge or ability to remove it without borking Windows.

Basically, it gets itself into the very guts Windows and was hidden from anti-virus, anti-spyware, and most security programs. It's pretty much undetectable outside of using a rootkit detector software and you had no idea you even loaded the software! Computer Associates blacklists the "crippleware" and lists it as a trojan horse as does Sophos. Articles with more details and links at VNU and The Register.

Now, news is that the Sophos anti-virus corporation has found a new virus 'in the wild' that takes advantage of Sony's "rootkit" hiding files to hide the virus. This is following news of the remarks of President of Sony BMG's global digital business division, Thomas Hesse. He said, "Most people, I think, don't even know what a rootkit is, so why should they care about it?" Umm... yeah, I think I care about my computer working properly and not have stuff installed on it that I don't know about nor can't remove. So a lawyer suddenly sees an opportunity to make lots of money here and files a class action lawsuit on behalf of consumers in California.
UPDATE: Apparently there's also a class action coming out of New York as well.

Honestly, most recording artists are appalled when they were told what their CDs have done and many of them apologize even though they aren't responsible for the actions of their publishers. So do you still support the record industry? If you do, go join Jack Thompson in his idiotic crusade against video games. Maybe you too will be disbarred for your stupidity! Bing Jordan, co-founder of Electronic Arts said something very interesting on G4TV.com this week. He compared video games to jazz, movies, and TV. They weren't seen as art forms originally, but those people that grew up with them definitely appreciated them. I definitely see his point.

Some people have suggested that we boycott Sony electronics. Personally, it's fairly easy for me to boycott Sony electronics products, its the media that's difficult. They don't really have anything compelling to purchase... their consumer electronics products aren't standouts compared their competitors and I don't want a PSP. I already own a PSTwo but they lose money on those. I'm probably going to end up with an XBOX360 anywho. They do have their hands in a lot of the movie industry and they're pushing Blu-ray which again will stop you from copying/ripping your DVDs for your own use.