Posted on by Tony

Sony Virus

There’s a new virus infecting Windows computers these days. It hides itself deep within your computer and is almost impossible to remove without completely reloading Windows. Even worse, it also opens up your computer to further maliscious attacks.

So what’s different this time? This virus is installed on purpose when you try to play certain CDs that you have legally purchased from Sony on your Windows computer. Molly Wood at Cnet.com has a lot more coverage on this story.

What can you do? First off, don’t buy any CDs with this technology. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has a list of infected CDs. I can’t imagine that anyone reading this site would be interested in listening to any of those CDs (with the possible exception of Trey Anastasio),

If you’ve already purchased one of these CDs and played it on your Windwos computer, you can contact Sony for uninstall instructions. Also, the Anti-Spyware program PestPatrol can detect this threat. They will hopefully have a removal tool available soon.

A class action lawsuit has been filed in California and another will be filed in New York according to Brian Krebs at the Wastington Post. I’m sure everyone who purchased one of these CDs will get a few cents out of the settlement.

All I can say is thank Jobs I have a Mac now. Malicious programs like this have no effect on my computer. After working on Windows computers all day, it’s so nice to go home to a computer that just works.

2 Replies to “Sony Virus”

  1. Not to quibble, but…one of your Faithful Readers actually HAS one of those albums…er-r-r…CDs. You young ones, unfortunately, only know the 80s-90s era cheesy Neil Diamond, but those of us with a few more years under our belts know the vintage wonder that is a good Neil Diamond-sung-and-written song.

    Here’s what Amazon has to say:
    Editorial Reviews
    Amazon.com
    Forget for a moment that you’re a sophisticated consumer of music with a mercilessly low tolerance for schlock: Neil Diamond–“Cracklin’ Rosie” and “Forever in Blue Jeans” be damned–is going to break your heart. 12 Songs, the hotly anticipated collaboration between Rick Rubin and the formerly jumpsuited Don Juan, exceeds all hopped-up expectations, deflating fans’ concerns that their hero might fall flat on the frames of his huge sunglasses in attempting to turn out something hip and harnessing what sounds like decades’ worth of untapped, superior songcraft instead. There it is on “Captain of a Shipwreck,” a declaration of love that skims the poetic with its promise that “If you’re captain of a shipwreck/I’ll be first mate to your shame,” and around it comes again on “Hell Yeah,” a life-affirming, rumor-debunking anthem fairly bursting with bravado (think “I Am…I Said,” but with context). Bravado aside, expect no pulled punches here. Rubin’s masterful approach is to let Neil Diamond do what Neil Diamond does best, and that is to strap on a loose guitar and let those teflon-ravaged vocals ride over it. Some rides, of course, are smoother than others–Brian Wilson’s guest spot on bonus track “Delirious Love” is so melodic and harmony-rich it ought to have sails attached, while “What’s It Gonna Be” sounds like something snatched in a pre-dawn lark from a Leonard Cohen disc. All of it is lovely, every last track. A respectful rescripting of the legend, a la the Rubin-aided recasting of Johnny Cash after 2002’s American Recordings, is in order. –Tammy La Gorce

    But I do only listen in the car, so my computer is safe.

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