PSA: More on the Sony/SunComm Crap - Affected Titles

[sisabet]

So - more on this Sony/SunnComm DRM crap. The lists with the 52 titles containing the XCP rootkit have been circulated a lot and it looks like Sony will replace those CDs with unaffected versions.

http://blogs.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2005/11/sony_bmg_has_ju.html

But, the SunComm stuff is on sooooo many more CDs - it appears the best way to find out if a title you own is infected is to go to the sunncomm site - click on the thing that says "CD in question" and scroll.

http://www.sunncomm.com/support/askthetech.asp

So, I knew "Songs from the Brown Hotel" tried to install something funky on my computer, but on that list I have also purchased Kings of Leon "Aha Shake Heartbreak" (which I love), My Morning Jacket "It Still Moves," Outkast "Speakerboxx" and Sloan "The A Sides Win" (a gift for my nephew).

I am hoping the copies of all of these were bought before the tech was in place. In the case of MMJ and Outkast I am positive I purchased regular CDs since both of those discs are a few years old. I think I beat the DRM on the Kings of Leon CD as well since I purchased it before the summer. I hope. EEP. I did not have trouble ripping it. I have no idea if the Sloan disc I bought was affected - I'm gonna have to go and look at The Boy's computer and see. He didn't tell me he had any problem getting it on his iPod, but he is 16 - he doesn't tell me much.

Looks like I am gonna be concentrating on my used CD purchases from now on. Which is fine by me - I'd rather support my local independent record store than Sony, anyway.

Also? Before I forget:


Things I did not purchase from Sony Today:

I need a DVD-burner and I needed one yesterday. For example - I have these master vid avi files that are 3 and 4 gigs each. I'd like to have backups because, well - harddrives can die and then that is that - you are screwed. Today I went to Best Buy with this in mind and I most certainly did not buy a Sony DVD-burner. I will continue not buying the Sony brand for now and forever (even though before this mess? That is the one I would get).

While I was at Best Buy I decided to just go ahead and get their $20 due South Season 3/4 since it'll be after Christmas before I get around to ordering the S4 Canadian release and I just want to have it already. I told myself that I don't need the matching case/art and I snagged a copy and started walking toward the door and I realized that, yes. Yes I do need my DVD artwork to match and if I know it is out there and I don't have it then I will be sad. So I am forgoing the instant gratification route in favor of aesthetics. This is like that one time I gave a copy of Cats Cradle away because it didn't match the other Vonnegut books.

Comments

[luminosity]

You need a Lite-On DVD r/w.

:)

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

Yes. I do.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to the list of CDs. Fortunately the only ones I own are the Outkast one and Kasabian (shut up, they're complete arseholes but the music is good) and I never played either in my PC.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

I adore Outkast. I think it also depends on *when* you purchased the CD in question (I'll know more when I get home and hit my CD rack to check). A lot of CDs on both lists (the XCP and the SunnComm lists) have been out for a very long time. I think the SunnComm stuff just started maybe this year? 2004?

If you bought Speakerboxx with "The Love Below" - I think it is okay. I think older used CDs of many of these titles are okay.

[smashsc.livejournal.com]

The Essential Pete Seeger got hit? I hope Seeger kicks their ass.

Sadly, I can't give up Sony because they own Columbia which has Springsteen & Dylan among others. And Tori Amos is on Epic which is also Sony.

[sisabet.livejournal.com]

You know what? I own lots and lots of Dylan and over the course of my lifetime - he has made money off of me. From now on? Used CDs only if it is a Sony product.

I'm gonna have to figure out how I feel about it in the long run - especially in the case of guys like the Kings of Leon who I *want* to have my money. I love them - they are great - how can I bypass Sony? Go to more shows?

[vampslayer04.livejournal.com]

Exactly how long has this software been around? Do you think a CD I bought in June 2005 would be okay or should I worry?

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

oooo, I hope not. I have some of the same discs you mention, and I hope I bought them long enough ago. My memory is seive-like, though, so I'm not reliable.

OTOH, my work computer died today from some kind of aggressive spyware attack and I have to drive to my dad's to work now until the geek people can come fix me. The idea that music I buy could lead to something like this (not related, but just freaking difficult) really frosts me.

[bloodypoetry.livejournal.com]

Oh god, my favorite CD ever is on that list. Brand New's Deja Entandu (and I'm sure I spelled that wrong). Here's to hoping I bought the cd way before any of this malicious crap started getting put on them.