It looks as though the recall is being detailed for the Sony cds that use the XCP Digital Rights Management copy protection. Sony has setup a page where customers can request an exchange. Sony will swap cds with DRM for cds without the DRM software. Also, Amazon.com is offering refunds through this link, they advise customers to list “defective as the reason for return.
Category: Computers
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OTHER Sony DRM software has security flaws too.
You almost want to bury your head in the sand at this point if you’re Sony…. Freedom-to-tinker has some details. The last couple weeks the XCP copy protection that Sony uses has been the center of a Firestorm for rootkit capabilities and massive security problems. Well, it seems the OTHER Digital Rights Management (DRM) software they use ( SunnComm MediaMax ) has some serious flaws too.
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MSN Virtual Earth neat tricks
I’ve spent some time covering some of the neat implementations of Google Maps and Google Earth, I’ve just come across a site that has similar uses for Microsoft’s MSN Virtual Earth. The site is called viavirtualearth.com and not only links to examples of neat things people have done using Virtual Earth, but also articles and how-to’s on implementing some of your own neat-tricks.
At this point, I still find Google maps easier (more intuitive?) to navigate in some of these (I tried a Ufo-maps link which offers both virtual earth and google maps overlays.) That could just be because I’ve used Google Maps more at this point.
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TRUSTe will offer certification for adware
TRUSTe has announced a program to certify software downloads. Among them are certifications for adware and “trackware” (spyware?). The bullet summary for the article claims this will bring an end to “unwanted popups”. A clip from the article reads as follows…
To be placed on the whitelist, adware and trackware must prominently disclose the types of advertising that will be displayed, personal information that will be tracked, and user settings that may be altered, and must obtain user opt-in consent for the download. An easy uninstall with clear instructions must be provided, and advertisements must be labeled with the name of the adware program. Program participants must maintain separate advertising inventory for users of certified applications. To move legacy users to certified advertising inventory, they must obtain new opt-in consent.
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Microsoft working to ensure Windows Validation works with Firefox
I’ve got to say, I’m impressed that this is happening. From the IEblog…
The core of my team’s job is to make IE7 and Windows Vista so compelling so that people choose our products. The people who work on Windows want you to have a good experience, whether you use IE or not – for example, Windows Media Player has a Firefox plugin. I also recently got a chance to play with a new Firefox plugin that simplifies and improves the Windows validation process on that browser – since, as I said to Scoble a long time ago, it would be arrogant for the people working on a product not to use other products in that category.
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Cogent cut takes down major internet backbone
Cogent has suffered a major outage of one of their main internet backbone connections. It appears that this link is having a big affect on the “internet health”. Comcast seems to be relatively hard hit with connectivity issues from this. It appears that the Northeast US and Southeast may have sporadic outages depending on the ISP. I’ve had a few peculiar net experiences this morning, but I’m not sure if this connectivity problem is what I’ve seen.
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Windows Denial of Service via RPC vulnerability
The Sans Institute is reporting on a vulnerability in Windows 2000 and XP SP1 (sp2 and 2003 not affected), that “could allow an attacker to levy a denial of service attack of limited duration”. It appears that valid login credentials are necessary for this. There is no patch yet, the best solution at this point is to firewall off services that are not necessary.
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The best way to get rid of the Sony DRM rootkit
The SecurityFix has a great how to article for the general public on the best way to remove the Sony DRM rootkit that’s been big news the last two weeks in tech circles. First, DON’T use Sony’s removal software as that introduces more security problems. Hopefully Sony will get together a removal for THAT eventually. Right now though, Microsoft has updated it’s malicious software removal tool to remove the Sony rootkit. This link is to Windows Live Safety Center, which will give a page with, among other things, a button that says “Full Service Scan” in the lower right hand corner.