Posted by BrendaTx on 12/22/05 9:23pm
Msg #84266

SONY putting spyware to Bust Piraters on Music CDs - OT

Texas Attorney General Brings Lawsuit Against Sony BMG For Spyware
November 22, 2005 By News Staff
http://www.govtech.net/news/news.php?id=97356


On Monday Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott sued SONY BMG Music Entertainment for illegal "spyware." The suit is the first filed under the state's spyware law of 2005. It alleges the company surreptitiously installed spyware on millions of compact music discs (CDs) that consumers insert into their computers when they play the CDs.

The Attorney General's lawsuit alleges the New York-based company violated a new Texas law protecting consumers from the hidden spyware. The company accomplished this by using new technology on certain music CDs to install files onto consumers' computers that hide other files installed by SONY. This secret "cloaking" component is installed without the knowledge of consumers and can cause their computers to become vulnerable to computer viruses and other forms of attack.

"SONY has engaged in a technological version of cloak and dagger deceit against consumers by hiding secret files on their computers," said Attorney General Abbott.

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This is not going over in Texas apparently. But neither is stealing music. My son's friend just got zapped for $4400 in fines. Her baby-blues did not get her out of that one.

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