by Matt | Nov 5, 2005 | Imported Entry
Chris did a great job of mentioning a new CD-protection scheme in his journal the other day and I’d like to take it a step further and elaborate on it a bit. Let me give you the basic behind this first. Sony, the most evil of the music companies, has made use of a new copy-protection scheme for their CDs. This protection involves not only DRM technology but something called a RootKit to HIDE that technology. Basically, they use a DRM scheme to limit how many times you can use that CD in a computer, if you can/can not copy it, make MP3s out of it, etc. That DRM software isn’t noticable by the end user because it’s hidden from Windows by the Rootkit. A Rootkit is basically cloaking technology that hides files, registry entries, running processes, etc. The thinking is if the end user can’t find it, they can’t shut it off. I won’t get into how much I think this is complete and total bullshit, but you can probably already guess my displeasure.
The main problem here is that this RootKit doesn’t exist ON the CD, no no, that would make sense, no, this baby is INSTALLED AND HIDDEN on your computer. Meaning, if you buy a Sony copy-protected CD, this Rootkit is being installed, activated and hidden without your knowledge. You can read more about the specific hiding/revealing, software aspects of this over at Mark’s SysInternals Blog (thanks to Chris for the original link).
Ok, so copy-protected music is evil, right, everyone with me? Good, cause here comes the next leap. The software makes very slight changes to the things it wants to hide. Basically, after you’ve listened to Madona for a few minutes and this thing is up and running on your system, all you (or anyone) would have to do to USE IT, would be to add “$sys$” to the front of a file. Windows will NEVER see it. So, viruses, trojans, hacks, etc, can be completely and totally hidden from EVERYTHING by adding a few characters to the front of the filename. Now, this would only work for those of use who have put a Sony CD in our computers, but still, the implications are frightening. Anti-Virus programs couldn’t find’em, system scans, etc. No running processes to be detected. Totally stealthy.
So, now we have a) a program that hides things completely from windows and everything else for that matter and b) a way to hide things OURSELVES.
Yup, that’s right kids. WE could hide things. Think about it this way… if you’re a hardcore cheater in online games, what’s the one thing you fear? Your cheat being detected right? How is that cheat detected? The most common checks are for file size/date/origin/manipulation and for running processes. Now, cheaters have gotten smart over the past few years. Now they’re way beyond simply editing a DLL or hacking the registry. Now the newest trend is creating “code caves”, essentially making a bubble in the code while it’s running, injecting their cheat, using it, they collapsing the bubble so it’s undetectable. The process works because the code is inserted into memory randomly and so quickly that most active scanners won’t detect it. What if you could have that process running 24/7/365 and it would NEVER be detected? That’s what Sony just gave to cheaters everywhere. A simply way to hide a running process from even Windows itself. If it’s hidden it can’t be seen as running and if it isn’t running it can’t be detected and if it can’t be detected, cheating just got easy.
Now, I play BF2. I enjoy it. But it’s anti-cheat system is Punk Buster, a mediocre at best system for scanning active processes/drivers and information sent to and from game servers. All I would have to do to cheat is to go buy the latest Santana CD, add “$sys$” to my hack and fire up the game. How fucking sick is that?
Way to go Sony. I hope you realize exactly what you’ve done. You’re not only evil for using a method like this to rob honest paying customers of their right to use the music they bought, but you’ve also given millions of people a relatively easy way to rob the rest of us out of good clean video gaming fun.
Is this all theoretical, is Matt worried over nothing, could this really happen? Yeah, it could, and has: World of Warcraft hackers using Sony BMG rootkit.
Way to go guys. Fucktards.
by Matt | Nov 3, 2005 | Personal
Sweet. Danger and T-mobile have rolled out a new firmware version via their over-the-air update system. Moving from v2.0 of the phone to 2.3. The new and improved include:
-Customize your key guard screen using a photo from your Gallery.
-Create a new item from the splash screens (Ctrl-N, basically)
-Support for JavaScript on Web pages
-Use live email, URL, and phone number links on Web pages.
-AIM: Choose your buddy icon from your Photo Gallery.
-AIM: Use live email, URL, and phone number links in conversations.
-Email: Select multiple messages from the Browse Messages screen.
-Address Book: each contact can store up to five IM names, plus launch conversations from the menu.
-Camera: Create a slideshow from your photos.
-Camera: Rotate a photo.
-Camera: New “List” and “zoom” views.
…and about 100 other things. Most of them pretty substantial improvements to the system and the device. My theory being that they’re making an update like this as a step between OSs as they transition from a proprietary DangerOS to a Java based system. The announcement of their partnership with Sun came last year but this is the first signifigant upgrade to the device since I’ve had it. Also, rumors put a completely Java based Sidekick 3 in comsumer hands by early next year. That would be fantastic. I’d love a java capable machine that has access to T-mobile hotspots, bluetooth and an improved camera. Those are my three main compaints with the sidekick as it is. Anything else would be gravy.
by Matt | Nov 2, 2005 | Personal
Lauren and I celebrated our 2 year anniversary last night. Doesn’t seem like two years. Seems like 20, but in a good way. It seems like she’s been with me forever. I can’t remember when she wasn’t.
We actually took a bit of a drive down past our usually stomping ground and went to this place we had heard about from people Lauren knew. It was this little place called Claudios, a mix of bar, resturant and piano lounge. Actually, there was all of 15 people in the place. It was very friendly and it seemed like everyone knew each other, which was also kind of the problem. It was like stepping into Cheers and not knowing any of the characters. There were people sitting at the bar and at tables that probably ate there everyday. The food was good. I was in the mood for a steak and had a tasty New York strip, Lauren had the lasagna. Anyone minus, and it wasn’t their fault, but they sat us in the bar because we had mentioned wanting to hear the music. The bar was smokey to say the least. I smell like smoke even this morning.
It was good though. Not some place I’d go daily, but not bad.
Oh, and I forgot to mention what she got me. For our anniversary this year Lauren got me the entire 2004 RedSox World Series collection (all 7 alcs games and all 4 ws games) and a sweet cordoroy blazer like the one I lost. I had the original jacket in college and loved it dearly, it was the perfect jacket in everyway. Then, somehow, it disappeared when I moved to Texas. Now I have another, and this one is pretty sweet. I think I’ve been a jacket person all along and never knew it.
Oh well, at the moment I’m waiting at Discount Tire to get a replacement tire for my baby. Apparently, one of my $180 tires decided it was time to fall apart. The whole sidewall was splitting. Luckily, the tire place recognized it as defective and gave me the replacement for $90. Looks like they’re almost done, time to go to work. Later.
by Matt | Oct 23, 2005 | Aggravation, Movies
Saying Doom the movie was “good” somehow seems like dirty pool, especially after I lambasted The History of Violence for having too little background story. I’ll just suggest you leave your disbelief at the door for this one. It wasn’t bad, it just requires a certain appreciation for the genre… or blood, whichever comes first.
Also, correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t the character “Sarge” the hero of the Doom series (I’m thinking Doom3 was the only one that mentions him by name). Or am I thinking of the Quake series. I know one of them was simply a Marine and the other some sort of officer. My memory is fuzzy on which one was which. You can tell I was really into the “story” of the games can’t you?
At any rate, its sort of a shame they didn’t go with the whole “hell demon” angle. Then again, blunt references to demons, hell, and the evil escaping from it probably wouldn’t have made it past American censors. So, when you can’t make monsters the old fashion way, what do you do? Genetically engineer them of course! Oh well. At least the movie got made.
I was actually pleasently surprised with the first-person bit. Interestingly done I thought. Not quite as cheesy as I figured it would be. Then again, I was giving this movie a lot of slack.
Ok, so it wasn’t good. I tried really really hard, but its still represents the typical movie Hollywood makes from video games. They need to let some gamers tackle the next few. I have high expectations for Halo, especially with the guy from 28 days later involved.
So… Mexicans. I know you were wondering when I’d get to that. It seems that our hispanic friends have even less ability to watch a movie than most annoying movie goers. Yes I’m talking about you gangsta rappers and pain-in-the ass white teenage girls. Wouldn’t want to leave any groups out now would I? All of these groups have one thing in common, their inability to pay attention for more than 30 seconds at a time. Couple that with cell phones, boyfriends/girlfriends and not shutting the hell up and you’ve got a portion of the population that I wouldn’t mind detaining on a small far away island. The hispanic people bring a whole other variable to the equation however: small children.
Don’t even get me started on the fact that small children should NOT, under any circumstances, be allowed to see a movie like Doom. No, these wonderful folks bring multiple, sometimes DOZENS of 4-9 year olds into movies like this. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, they completely forget to parent them while they’re there. The kids run up and down the stairs and isles, throw popcorn at each other, STAND up in their seats, all sorts of shit. So, while a whole brood of birth control mistakes runs rampent, Dad sits there, on his cell, watching the movie.
Everyone needs to be extremely thankful that people like me are patient. I’m constantly “this” close to slapping the shit out of people.
I digress, just, for me, at least try to be a parent. Don’t be stupid. And hang up your fucking cell phones.
Out.
by Matt | Oct 20, 2005 | Games
In case you didn’t know Quake 4 came out this week… and I couldn’t care less. Apparently its single player is at least interesting but it multiplayer, the reason most of us would buy it, is a pathetic rehashing of Quake 3. Reviews mention that they’ve “recreated” the classic maps. Translation: they couldn’t think up anything new. I’ve done my homework on this one. I’ve checked out every official and unofficial video of the multiplayer gameplay. I’m completely and totally unimpressed.
I have no intentions of playing this one. I had grand ellusions about wasting the night away reliving some old school Quake goodness. Apparently all I have to do is find my Q3 cds.
On the flip side, Civ4 ships next week. That’s pure love in a box folks. Crack, personified. I have my preorder, do you?
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