Tech ArticlesAccording to eWeek, Microsoft is "concerned" about Sony's DRM rootkit. You may be asking yourself, what exactly does that mean? Good question.
eWeek cites an unnamed Microsoft spokesman as saying
Microsoft's Windows Defender and the Malicious Software Removal Tool have established objective criteria to determine what code will be classified for removal. We are evaluating the current situation to determine if any action from Microsoft is necessary... We have invested considerable resources in the security of our products and processes. As such, we are concerned about any malware, including root kits, which targets our customers and negatively impacts the security, reliability and performance of their systems.
In other words, they haven't decided what to do yet. Perhaps it's that classic Microsoft dilemma: do we ignore a problem we can't fix or just fake it?
If they don't fix it, they leave Windows users at risk. If they do fix it, that would acknowledge some pretty lame security on the Windows platform. Say what you want about Windows users being to blame, but I've never seen a Linux kernel rewritten just by inserting a CD.
It does make sense for Microsoft not to point the finger too sternly at Sony, though. After all, they've yet to explain ActiveX to any of us.
Rollie Hawk is a consultant, web publisher, online personality, magazine writer, web developer, network administrator, teacher, husband and father residing in southern Illinois. He graduated in 2002 from Southern Illinois University, earning his BS majoring in math with a minor in chemistry.