RIAA/MPAA Contractor Deploys Malicious Adware Trojans 883
RichardX writes "Overpeer, the organization responsible for seeding many peer to peer networks with damaged, corrupt and fake files has now found a way of hiding spyware and adware inside Windows Media files by using a DRM loophole and is using this technique to further pollute p2p networks." Several readers sent in a PCworld article on the same subject.
Re:I Wonder... (Score:3, Informative)
Of course the alternative is to not pirate WMA files.. mp3 works for me
Tom
DRM loophole... (Score:3, Informative)
PS: Stuff like this is why i stick to stream formats like MP3, with no extra bullshit.
Re:The problem (Score:5, Informative)
You may not have "intended" to infringe on CMAIAA's work, but I forced you to, or rather the browser did.
Re:I Wonder... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:The problem (Score:1, Informative)
Not a problem at all. Really. All you need is a Canadian citizen to download one of these puppies and bring suit in a Canadian court. Since legal precedent in Canada says that you are allowed to download media for which you do not hold the copyright for personal use, the person bringing the suit did not take any illegal action and thus does not have to worry about any potential legal consequences of "admitting he downloads music."
Problem solved. RIAA fscked.
PLEASE let this happen sooner rather than later. If I were Canadian, I would be firing up KaZaa specifically for the purpose of downloading the song "Alicia Keys Fallin' Songs In A Minor 4.wma" so I could march right into court and sue their @$$es... since Overpeer themselves admitted in the linked interview that they are the source of these files (admission of guilt), proof of who did it should be a slam dunk.
For the love of mud, some Canadian slashdotter please do this and end the insanity.
READ THE ARTICLE (Score:0, Informative)
It is not auto installing anything.....
Unchecking 'acquire license...' doesn't work! (Score:4, Informative)
I have encountered a few protected DRM files which didn't actually required any license - They just opened a webpage... And I have had this unchecked ever since I installed WMP.
However, as I don't use internet explorer, I make sure it is in 'offline mode' - This seems to stop all of this nonsense, as the internet explorer object is what WMP uses for DRM.
Proxies are another way to go about this...
In general, though, Microsoft doesn't really give you any options when a DRM'ed file is encountered - It calls the mother site no matter what options you check/uncheck in WMP itself.
Re:The problem (Score:3, Informative)
[sarcasm] OMG, we've just found a security bug in Firefox! [/sarcasm]
If the user was already using IE to view your web page, there is no need to use media player. Just put your exploit directly in your page.
How to disable (Score:5, Informative)
DRM & WM commands (Score:5, Informative)
UK Computer Misuse Act. (Score:5, Informative)
"causes a computer to perform any function with intent to secure access to any program or data held in any computer"
Computer Misuse Act 1990 [hmso.gov.uk]
Depending on what the Company does with the data obtained they are likely also be in breach of the Data Protection Act 1998 [hmso.gov.uk] which allows a £5,000 fine for each person offended against.
Similar legislation exists throughout Europe [eu.int] as part of the Information Society Policy Framework [eu.int] agreement.
Re:This is great! (Score:3, Informative)
BTW, I remembered the option for something like "automatically download rights management software" when installating Windows Media Player, what, 10 is it now? I hesitantly clicked yes. Now that I've done so, I can't find an option inside of the program to say no. Odd.
Try Tools|Options|Privacy.
You should see a check box for "Acquire licenses automatically for protected comment". Uncheck it, click OK and you should be golden.
Pro-business myth (Score:2, Informative)
This is a myth that does not hold up under scrutiny, yet some slashdotters continue to propegate it. Consider:
1. Generally the Fortune 500 is very balanced in donations to political parties.
2. The recording and film industry is exceptionally pro-Democratic (in donations and political support).
3. The richest businessmen in the US are strongly affiliated with the Democratic party, not the Republican party. Microsoft founder and chairman Bill Gates (who was called this week by former President Clinton in order to donate money per the tsunami disaster and embarress the Bush administration) has a growing relationship with predominant Democrats. Warren Buffet, chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, is a long-time established Democrat with great distain for Republicans and their pro-small business tax policy.
4. The Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) was supported by and signed into law by President Clinton. It was also sponsored by Republicans Boucher (VA), Doolittle (CA) and Barton (TX) and had very strong bipartison support.
5. Unions are businesses that are overwhelmingly pro-Democrat. Many industries lean overwhelmingly one way or the other due to lobbying efforts and recognition/support by the parties. So are powerful lobbying efforts such as the NRA, AARP, etc. In fact, about the only industries that are consistently pro-Republican and do not scatter donations to both parties are those that have been the target of Democratic looting (e.g. the fleecing of the healthcare industry by trial attorneys).
7. Nearly all trial attorneys, owners of much of the wealth in th US, are exclusively Democrats and have significant distain for the little guy. Think about all the class action settlements you've witnessed discussed on slashdot. While the trial attorneys receive tens of millions of dollars *each* in compensation (up to several billion dollars each as was experienced in tobacco class action settlements), the most the "little guy" consumer receives is a coupon for a discount off another purchase, or a few dollars with proof of purchase, etc. A recent Alltel class action settlement resulted in millions in cash being paid to the attorneys, while affected Alltel customers were provided with a $50 coupon off the purchase of a new Alltel phone (at list price, with an extension of their service contract for another service term). One was better off getting a regularly discounted phone at the electronics store rather than the settlement coupon offer.
8. Enron was greasing both parties (although the mainstream media portrays it as a "Republican scandel", prominant Democrats including Sen. Kerry were very closely affiliated with Enron). So was Worldcom, Global Crossing, etc. Marc Rich of Oil for Food scandel fame received a critically timed pardon from Pres. Clinton minutes before Clinton left office, freeing Rich from almost certain capture by Interpol authorities. Chinese businesses are notorious doners to the DNC and congressional Democrats.
Why does the "Republicans are pro-big business" myth continue to propegate? Primarily because it is effective in rallying members of large labor unions against the Republican party (by presenting a fictional advisary for them to hate in traditional Orwellian "5 minutes of hate" fashion). Those that actually believe the myth are referred to as useful fools by both parties. The reality is that businesses donate to whoever is effective in pursuing their objectives.
If you'd like to learn more about this myth, check out opensecrets.org [opensecrets.org] which details donations by various demographics.
Re:So how.. (Score:5, Informative)
(kind of offtopic)
I sure wish the ptroleum industry was as concerned about the leaks in their distribution system as the content industry is about theirs.
Comment removed (Score:3, Informative)
Re:So how.. (Score:3, Informative)
Again, this debate is pretty academic because I completely agree that piracy is not hurting movie sales in either a significant or demonstrable way. But everyone should know that if they're in a business where stealing is a legitimate and/or uncombatable threat, then investment will certainly dwindle and flow to other, likely profitable places.