__/ [Big Bad Bob] on Saturday 14 January 2006 02:21 \__
> Lissi wrote:
>> Juergen Schmidt comments on Heise.Security, that rootkits aren't
>> necessarily *BAD*, but sometimes have useful functions. He concludes
>> that "technically" there's no reason to call rootkits "evil". "For
>> differentiation between software and malware there is in the end only
>> one criterium: the consent of the user. Who installs software without
>> previously getting the consent of the person who is responsible for the
>> system has gone over to the evil side.
>
> "You must install this [malware] to view/hear content"
>
> "Press OK to install"
>
> That would fall under his umbrella of "consent of the user" perhaps?
> And I'd be willing to bet that 99% of the 'malware' out there now is
> installed by clueless users in this very manner...
>
>> /*
>> Of course, what Schmidt doesn't comment on are things like MediaMax,
>> which installs itself even if you refuse to agree to the installation.
>> */
>
> OUCH!
That, in fact, is very similar to the Sony rootkit if I recall correctly.
Simply entering a CD onto the drive would have everything installed. I
recall a controversy or maybe a lawsuit that relied on this observation that
refusal had the rootkit instated as well.
"It's hidden, so who the hack will ever notice...?"
Roy
--
Roy S. Schestowitz | "Computers are useless. They only solve problems"
http://Schestowitz.com | SuSE Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
6:55am up 34 days 14:06, 14 users, load average: 0.58, 0.66, 0.79
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