Comments on: Sony’s new rootkit http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/ All the stuff that goes through Vox's mind, including SF/Fantasy books, open source software, linux, security, and many other geeky pursuits. Sat, 22 Nov 2008 05:58:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Vox http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3156 Vox Thu, 30 Aug 2007 21:00:19 +0000 http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3156 I absolutely agree that any software that phones home without the user's *explicit* approval is a bad thing, whether it's sending info or not (the MS people say that WGA Notifiy doesn't send info, it just checks to get new config files...if somebody'll believe them) and it shouldn't be done. And that's one of the many reasons why I'm a linux user...no program of mine calls home unless I tell it to call home. I have no problem with Mandriva knowing the settings of my computer...whenever I do a new install or a distro upgrade, I do submit my settings to their DB and it helps them make each version of Mandriva better...but it's something you have to *explicitly* do, not something that happens behind your back. I absolutely agree that any software that phones home without the user’s *explicit* approval is a bad thing, whether it’s sending info or not (the MS people say that WGA Notifiy doesn’t send info, it just checks to get new config files…if somebody’ll believe them) and it shouldn’t be done.

And that’s one of the many reasons why I’m a linux user…no program of mine calls home unless I tell it to call home. I have no problem with Mandriva knowing the settings of my computer…whenever I do a new install or a distro upgrade, I do submit my settings to their DB and it helps them make each version of Mandriva better…but it’s something you have to *explicitly* do, not something that happens behind your back.

]]> By: milo http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3154 milo Thu, 30 Aug 2007 19:29:15 +0000 http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3154 Moreover, connecting to Microsoft brings security issue for corporate networks, and privacy issues for everyone. It is also unclear which information are transmitted (Microsoft published an official answer, but an individual study brought some questions). All of that, along the fact that Microsoft used deceptive ways to make you install this tool (it was told you it was an urgent security update, whereas it is a new installation giving you no extra security) makes me calling this tool a spyware. Check this <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=windows+files+transmitted&btnG=Search">search</a>. Moreover, connecting to Microsoft brings security issue for corporate networks, and privacy issues for everyone. It is also unclear which information are transmitted (Microsoft published an official answer, but an individual study brought some questions). All of that, along the fact that Microsoft used deceptive ways to make you install this tool (it was told you it was an urgent security update, whereas it is a new installation giving you no extra security) makes me calling this tool a spyware.

Check this search.

]]> By: Vox http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3152 Vox Thu, 30 Aug 2007 17:56:41 +0000 http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3152 Nah, they never learn. And I didn't know about the logfiles getting transmitted...do you have any URL with info about what gets transmitted by WGA? I'd love to see that. Nah, they never learn.
And I didn’t know about the logfiles getting transmitted…do you have any URL with info about what gets transmitted by WGA? I’d love to see that.

]]> By: milo http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3150 milo Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:35:18 +0000 http://thesoapvox.com/2007/08/28/sonys-new-rootkit/#comment-3150 They never learn, do they? Btw: I tend to classify the Windows WGA as a rootkit as well, although I have official XP and Vista, I simply don't want to know Redmond which other programs I'm using. Did you know that even the logfiles were transmitted? They never learn, do they?
Btw: I tend to classify the Windows WGA as a rootkit as well, although I have official XP and Vista, I simply don’t want to know Redmond which other programs I’m using.
Did you know that even the logfiles were transmitted?

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