The story has already found its way to
Washington Post and seems to be making ever bigger waves:
Quote:
Study of Sony Anti-Piracy Software Triggers Uproar
File-Hiding Technique Alarms Security Researchers; Developer Offers Patch
Irate music fans who posted to dozens of online blogs vowing to never again buy Sony CDs as long as the company keeps using a suddenly beleaguered anti-piracy software program may find that their outbursts have been partially rewarded today.
On the heels of the Internet uproar over security concerns with its copyright-protection measures, the company that developed the software for recording-industry giant Sony BMG Music Entertainment says it is providing computer users with a "patch file" that will mitigate some of the features that alarmed security researchers when they were discovered earlier this week -- especially the program's built-in ability to hide files on the user's system.
Privacy and security experts charged that the technology built into many of Sony's music CDs since March is unnecessarily invasive and exposes users to threats from hackers and virus writers.
"Here you have one of the biggest name-brand corporations on the planet getting into what many people in other circumstances would consider hacking," said Richard Smith, a security and privacy consultant based in Boston. "That's just not acceptable."
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A software patch needed to cure your PC from its one-time exposure to a Sony music cd? Gee... we consumers need this sort of 'products' like a hole in our head.