Let The Fallout Begin! (Beware of Sony-BMG Audio CDs)

The buzz around the 'net these past few weeks: Sony-BMG Audio CDs has a "copy protection" software which acts like a rootkit. Although this "copy protection" scheme acts like a malicious software, it does not actually harm computers -- though there are scattered reports of unexplained problems that stems from the poorly written code of their "copy protection". One of the side-effects of Sony's "copy protection" software is that it hides all files whose filename starts with "$SYS$".

Now comes the bad news: Some virus writers are now taking advantage of this side-effect and they are appending "$SYS$" on the filename of their creations (see CNN article here). In short, Sony's "copy protection" software further opens up Windows' already battered security setting to malicious hackers.

and they (the record labels) are still wondering why people opt to use BitTorrent to get music instead of buying them...