Microsoft Sweeps Sony Rootkits off the Map

There's no doubt about it, Sony really messed things up with its rootkit software and has also damaged the company's image more than any other competitor could have done.

Installing spyware software on users' computers made everybody angry, and for a very good reason. But while some stuck with just showing disappointment, others stepped in and offered solutions for cleaning the systems from Sony's malware.

The company run by Bill Gates announced a few weeks ago that it was going to publish an application that cleans systems from rootkits as a part of its Microsoft Antispyware solution. Until yesterday, the suite was left untouched, but Microsoft announced an updated version of the Windows Malicious Software Removal Tool, which detects and removes from the system "F4IRootkit", which is what Microsoft called the infamous Sony rootkit, installed on 52 music albums and distributed in over 5 million copies.

This solution also includes a tool for stumping Sony's uninstaller, removes trojans like the IRCBot and the Ryknos, but also viruses like Blaster, Sasser and Mydoom.