Be aware of software you install on your computer. According to this wired article (wired- ) and many other articles recently, Sony installed what is equivalent to a Spy-ware program on many unsuspecting consumers. Now if a programmer created the same sort of application (called a rootkit) and released it on the internet he would actually be arrested for cyber crime. This type of application is equivalent to a virus. However it seems that the government has never prosecuted a company for a cyber crime. A Rootkit is a hidden piece of software that runs in the background, it’s invisible to even the Operating System. Viruses use these to cloak themselves. Now that Sony has been caught doing this, the question is how many other companies have these programs running? They are not easy to find.
In this case the root kit was hidden in a DRM, Digital Rights Management( however I see it more like Deceptive Research Manipulation), program so that consumers can not pirate the music. Sony has put millions of research dollars to create this DRM program and didn’t consider the security issue. This program is suppose to make it possible for the consumer not to copy the music which they bought because according to the Recording Industry of America friends copying cd’s on there computers is the biggest threat. A study has said that 50% of illegally copy cd’s for other people. Of course that number is a guess, however the company owners think that DRM will up there profits 50%. Meanwhile this DRM Rootkit opened a backdoor for viruses to infect consumers machines.
Over the past couple of years all companies have been down sized and lost revenue. The Record industry first blamed P2P networks and now just copying a cd to there lost revenue and in return want to put software that spies on there consumers when ever they copy songs or put them on an MP3 player. Further more it makes it impossible to put these files on an iPod.
These companies are only looking to protect there intellectual properties at any cost towards consumers. The best way around all this is just listen to the radios either on the internet in your car or satellite. I have been buying songs through iTunes but because of all this I feel the record industry doesn’t deserve my .99 per a song. At this point Deceptive Research Manipulation(DRM) has made me think. Any company can release a software application that limits my ability to use a product plus adds hidden applications that modify my computer and send information about me through the internet. If Sony can get away with this and not be considered a cyber crime then any major corporation can legally sell you a product that can legally spy on you. Be careful on checking that agree box before you install!