14 DAY TRIAL // We all know and trust Sony, but this is the second time they pull one of these on us, users. First they used this rootkit technology about 2 years ago to enforce DRM. There is nothing wrong with digital rights management, but using rootkits is just rotten, if you ask me. It just makes your computer insecure and there is nothing you can do about it. It removes your control over a certain part of your machine.
So, for those of you that don't know what a rootkit is or does, let me say it in a few sentences - it's a type of software that keeps itself, as well as other files, registry keys and network connections hidden from detection. And all that, on YOUR computer, so it's like a virus, you get it, you don't know it's there and what's even worse you have no control over it, unless you are really tech-savvy and can operate with Comand Prompt.
And this is when hackers come into place - they can get their malware onto your PC and hide it in the rootkit - no normal API (application programming interface) will detect it and anti-viruses don't scan something they don't see (the rootkit) so this is severe! Having a rootkit on your PC is just like having a "Kick me!" sign on your back.
Sony has released a new line of USB drives that install a driver that uses this type of rootkit technology (it simply hides under c:windows). This will affect the Sony MicroVault USM-F line of flash drives. I've seen this on F-secure's blog and as I've read it, things are not too good. I was actually wondering - haven't these guys had enough after the debacle in 2005? They used a rootkit back then and they were sued and forced to pay millions of dollars, because of the vulnerabilities they caused to users' computers.