Offmessage

This is a very technical article that most will unfortunately not read, but… What it describes is how First 4 Internet’s XCP technology (currently in use on at least Sony and EMI CDs to my knowledge, perhaps more) installs software on your machine that you don’t know about, that uses Virus technology to hide itself from you and that you have no way of uninstalling. It is illegal to do this in the UK (not sure about the US). I know why they’re doing it - by not hiding it from users perhaps we will find it and circumvent their DRM - but it is absolutely no excuse. Particularly because it shows up when you run a Root Kit scan and kills your computer if you delete it. In other words if you play a Sony CD and later scan your machine for malicious software and clean up anything you find your computer will stop working - all down to Sony’s desperation to stop you ripping a CD. They’re really in danger of law suits….