Sony-BMG flushes DRM down the toilet

Record label Sony BMG has finally stopped selling music CDs with the XCP anti-piracy technology. The company for days failed to listen to security experts who claimed that that the technology formed a security risk if the owner inserted it into his computer.

But as soon as the first real internet worm surfaced, the executives bailed ship and did what they should have done from the very first day: ditch the affront of a software product called XCP that was created in the dark dungeons of First 4 Internet.

If you happen to own one of the CDs, you can exchange it.

While it didn't take worm authors long to create a computer virus that targeted the features of XCP that hides the technology from both the system and users, it's comforting that they have failed to actually do so.

By now half a dozen of worms have been detected that try to exploit the cloaking features. But not a single one has actually succeeded using the features, even though every security expert that studies the technology could explain you how to do it.

It's comforting because it shows that most virus authors are mentally challenged and have the programming skills of an onion. Al also makes you fear what happens if more skilled programmers join the virus writing guilt.

Sony BMG's new corporate head quarters

Tags: Sony BMG, first 4 internet, XCP, DRM, trojan

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