Sony BMG Rootkit and Why Trust Matters
Music labels are fighting piracy with software, not just lawyers. Sony BMG and other majors now ship copy-protected CDs that install player software, limit ripping, and sometimes phone home to verify licenses. The packaging rarely explains what happens when you insert the disc into a Windows PC. That should worry anyone who manages desktops — including your own. Autorun Is the Real Entry Point Most of the friction starts with Autorun. Insert a CD, and Windows offers to launch an installer — often a custom media player with DRM components. Users click OK because the dialog looks official and the CD came from a retail shelf, not a download site. ...