Watch out for the Sony CDs

dmastous

Professional
A word of warning.
DO NOT load Sony's CD player if it asks you to. You will be sorry. The "copy protection" software has the potential to really screw up you computer.
AND while they're at it, they leave you open for all kinds of hidden files sent to you by your friendly neigborhood virus/trojan horse writer.
Many thanks Sony.

It's a bit technical but here's more info;
http://www.grc.com/sn/SN-012.htm
 

armand

Banned
thanks, dmastous. Yet another reason to not buy music CDs anymore. Thank you, Sony, for making me feel better about downloading music for free.
 
Y

yodudedudeyo

Guest
whoa, BMG music cds also require you to download a program if you want to even think about uploading the cd to your computer! making it useless unless all you want to do is listen to your cd on your old school cd player! i bought the new foo fighters cd thinking it was going to be off the hook then BAM, i was pissed because i have to dl some stupid program!
 

dmastous

Professional
yodudedudeyo said:
whoa, BMG music cds also require you to download a program if you want to even think about uploading the cd to your computer! making it useless unless all you want to do is listen to your cd on your old school cd player! i bought the new foo fighters cd thinking it was going to be off the hook then BAM, i was pissed because i have to dl some stupid program!
While many think all corperations are evil and should be wiped off the face of the Earth. I'm not in that camp. But I will say the the entertainment industry in general is a slimy and untrustworthy cutthroat industry.
I had the misfortune to briefly work in it and will never do so again.
If you buy a DVD that asks you to install their "special" InterActive DVD software, DON'T. That software is designed to disable any DVD copying software you currently have and will activly stop any from working in the future.
These people have no right to modify your computer in this way. Sony has no right to install a program that actually modifies your operating system kernal so you not only never know it's there, but it will never find it unless you use s special RootKit Removal tool. AND if you do remove it, it corrupts your computer. It's just horrible that a company like Sony can get away with this.
I did accept the install of the InterActive DVD software a few years ago, but that was maybe a half dozen installations of Windows ago and it is history.
I will NEVER install a program any entertainment industry company wants to install in the future.
 

tennismx

New User
I don't know much about computers, but I have InterVideo WinDVD4 under my list of programs. Is that related to InterACTIVE DVD?
 

dmastous

Professional
tennismx said:
I don't know much about computers, but I have InterVideo WinDVD4 under my list of programs. Is that related to InterACTIVE DVD?
I'm not sure. It looks like it's OK from a quick Google seach. I use PowerDVD.
InterActive is a program that is offered FREE by the studios. When you put certain DVDs in your computer DVD tray you will get a window that offers it to you, so you can see "Special Content" on these DVDs. There are a lot of DVDs that do this. The one off the top of my head is Harry Potter. If the software you are talking about came with the computer or you installed it, it's probably no big deal (no guarrentees though) if it's software you allowed a DVD to install it may be.
If you don't want to copy DVDs with something like X-Copy you have nothing to worry about anyway. I don't think InterActive is corruptive dangerous like this Sony install.
The Sony thing is much worse because it actually corrupts your computer, and leaves you open to things like Key Logging software or adware being hidden on your computer.
 
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