Sony USB driver installs a rootkit? - bit-tech.net Forums

Tim S · 28th Aug 2007, 10:38

http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/08...ls_a_rootkit/1

It looks like Sony is back with another rootkit after two years in the dark. This time the company's MicroVault USB thumb drives are the carriers.

g3n3tiX · 28th Aug 2007, 11:04

Looks like they didn't learn from their mistake.
Personally I hate having things hid into my computer without my knowledge and/or consent.

plagio · 28th Aug 2007, 11:05

So, it is not a rootkit, and only people using windows with an administrator account (99%) can have this USB drive to create folders into the window directory tree ..... right ?

cjoyce1980 · 28th Aug 2007, 11:08

if they can't make you buy there products so they can take over the world, then they screw up, whatever you have currently!

I bet if you put that in a 360 or a wii's usb port, the 3 red lights of death appear or something to that effect!

cjoyce1980 · 28th Aug 2007, 11:10

Just another thought.......I wonder if vista UAC thing would allow this to be installed

mikeuk2004 · 28th Aug 2007, 11:33

sorry im lost, what is a rootkit?

Tim S · 28th Aug 2007, 11:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikeuk2004

sorry im lost, what is a rootkit?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit

mikeuk2004 · 28th Aug 2007, 11:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim S

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rootkit

Cheers Tim, now I understand what the Bioshock thread is all about.

Sony Microvaults are expensive anyway. Much better usb pens from other manufactures. I got one for the wife thats all rubber, just incase she drops it, it just bounces and water resistant incase she sills crap on it.

plagio · 28th Aug 2007, 13:44

If this is only a hidden directory where only fingerprints data are stored it is not a rootkit.ù
Still, the folder is invisible and may be used for viruses and all that. But this is still not a rootkit.

DXR_13KE · 28th Aug 2007, 13:53

if at first you don't succeed, try try again...

Kipman725 · 28th Aug 2007, 14:02

loads of directorys are hidden like that in windows, just look at your hard drive using another OS and you can see loads of folders that arn't shown even if you have show hidden files etc set. I think the scariest one was the hidden IE history that is kept on windows 98 computers (not sure if it's still there on XP) but it was basicly a file recording all recently visted pages that was never cleared out and was hidden from the rest of the OS and was imposible to turn off.

Tim S · 28th Aug 2007, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by plagio

If this is only a hidden directory where only fingerprints data are stored it is not a rootkit.Ã¹
Still, the folder is invisible and may be used for viruses and all that. But this is still not a rootkit.

It's not a rootkit per-se hence the questionmark, but as stated it uses rootkit style cloaking techniques, which is the problem.

naokaji · 28th Aug 2007, 14:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kipman725

loads of directorys are hidden like that in windows, just look at your hard drive using another OS and you can see loads of folders that arn't shown even if you have show hidden files etc set. I think the scariest one was the hidden IE history that is kept on windows 98 computers (not sure if it's still there on XP) but it was basicly a file recording all recently visted pages that was never cleared out and was hidden from the rest of the OS and was imposible to turn off.

thats what you have cd bootable linux distros for

completemadness · 28th Aug 2007, 17:38

yeah the caches and stuff in windows can be very hard to locate

their hidden somewhere in documents and settings, you often get viruses there, but my virus scanner picks em up

jweller · 28th Aug 2007, 21:29

Regardless of what it is called or what it does we all know we can implicitly trush Sony's intentions with hidden processes running on our computers. =P

johnnyboy700 · 28th Aug 2007, 21:53

Wow, I almost bought one of these little sods! Good job I got a Scandisk instead.

I think its really underhand when companies do something like this, how dare they install something or peoples PC's without either their knowledge or consent.
I seem to recall that Sony were hit with a hefty fine for doing the same thing with some of their music cd's in the States earlier this year. does this mean they'll get hit again?

DougEdey · 28th Aug 2007, 21:56

[sony]

IM IN UR SISTAM, HIDIN
[/sony]

Darv · 28th Aug 2007, 22:13

And people wonder why there's all the anti Sony bashing going on. I think all their bad press is entirely justified considering things like this, especially since this isn't the first time either.

Morphine-Kitty · 28th Aug 2007, 23:02

wbdog206 · 29th Aug 2007, 03:37

some people just never learn.

28th Aug 2007, 10:38	#1
Tim S Pewlius Caesar bit-tech Staff Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Ascot, Berks Posts: 18,021	Sony USB driver installs a rootkit? http://www.bit-tech.net/news/2007/08...ls_a_rootkit/1 It looks like Sony is back with another rootkit after two years in the dark. This time the company's MicroVault USB thumb drives are the carriers. __________________ Tim on Twitter \| Tim's Blog \| Tim's Flickr The bit-tech Blog \| bit-tech on Twitter \| Join the bit-tech & Custom PC folding team (#35947)

28th Aug 2007, 11:04	#2
g3n3tiX Resident frenchie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: localhost Posts: 589	Looks like they didn't learn from their mistake. Personally I hate having things hid into my computer without my knowledge and/or consent. __________________ I also have a MTBF.

28th Aug 2007, 11:33	#6
mikeuk2004 What you Looking at Fool! Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Sheffield, UK Posts: 3,048	sorry im lost, what is a rootkit? __________________ -\|- Xfire - Mikeuk2005 -\|- Xbox Live - Mike UK 2006 -\|- Playstation Network - Mikeuk2004 -\|-

28th Aug 2007, 13:53	#10
DXR_13KE Madeira's banana is the best!!! Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Madeira ; Portugal Posts: 6,466	if at first you don't succeed, try try again... __________________ *Renegade X - 0.40 Release!* <---- CLICK!

28th Aug 2007, 14:02	#11
Kipman725 When did I get a custom title!?! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: UK Posts: 1,753	loads of directorys are hidden like that in windows, just look at your hard drive using another OS and you can see loads of folders that arn't shown even if you have show hidden files etc set. I think the scariest one was the hidden IE history that is kept on windows 98 computers (not sure if it's still there on XP) but it was basicly a file recording all recently visted pages that was never cleared out and was hidden from the rest of the OS and was imposible to turn off. __________________ Sn45g game server mod My Electronics Site Hardware: 3400+ Sempr0n, 1GB RAM, 1.28TB local storage, x1950pro,Razer Viper,M$ comfort curve 2000,L70S + 17", Fujitsu 17" CRT Audio: HD-650's, PE congress amp, Sound Blaster AWE64, Soundblaster 24bit

28th Aug 2007, 11:05	#3
plagio Multimodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 140	So, it is not a rootkit, and only people using windows with an administrator account (99%) can have this USB drive to create folders into the window directory tree ..... right ?

28th Aug 2007, 11:08	#4
cjoyce1980 Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 343	if they can't make you buy there products so they can take over the world, then they screw up, whatever you have currently! I bet if you put that in a 360 or a wii's usb port, the 3 red lights of death appear or something to that effect!

28th Aug 2007, 11:10	#5
cjoyce1980 Supermodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: UK Posts: 343	Just another thought.......I wonder if vista UAC thing would allow this to be installed

28th Aug 2007, 13:44	#9
plagio Multimodder Join Date: May 2004 Location: Rome, Italy Posts: 140	If this is only a hidden directory where only fingerprints data are stored it is not a rootkit.ù Still, the folder is invisible and may be used for viruses and all that. But this is still not a rootkit.

28th Aug 2007, 17:38	#14
completemadness Hypermodder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 887	yeah the caches and stuff in windows can be very hard to locate their hidden somewhere in documents and settings, you often get viruses there, but my virus scanner picks em up

28th Aug 2007, 21:29	#15
jweller Minimodder Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 24	Regardless of what it is called or what it does we all know we can implicitly trush Sony's intentions with hidden processes running on our computers. =P

28th Aug 2007, 21:53	#16
johnnyboy700 Hypermodder Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 783	Wow, I almost bought one of these little sods! Good job I got a Scandisk instead. I think its really underhand when companies do something like this, how dare they install something or peoples PC's without either their knowledge or consent. I seem to recall that Sony were hit with a hefty fine for doing the same thing with some of their music cd's in the States earlier this year. does this mean they'll get hit again?

28th Aug 2007, 21:56	#17
DougEdey I pwn all your storage Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southampton Posts: 13,933	[sony] IM IN UR SISTAM, HIDIN [/sony] __________________ Burnout: Paradise Stats!XBL: DougEdey Bindi PSN ID: DougEdey Twitter

28th Aug 2007, 22:13	#18
Darv Bling!! Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: St Albans, UK Posts: 1,666	And people wonder why there's all the anti Sony bashing going on. I think all their bad press is entirely justified considering things like this, especially since this isn't the first time either.

28th Aug 2007, 23:02	#19
Morphine-Kitty Dead account. Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 366	__________________ Not posting on this forum anymore...

29th Aug 2007, 03:37	#20
wbdog206 Don't mind me. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In the middle of nowhere Posts: 373	some people just never learn. __________________ Of all the things I have lost, I miss my mind the most.