Featured Article: Review - Enemy Territory QUAKE Wars
Sony DRM for the Mac
by , 8:10 AM EST, November 11th, 2005
In certain cases, Sony BMG distributed music CDs will install digital rights management (DRM) software on Macs, according to a MacInTouch reader. The music CDs install two kernel extensions called PhoenixNub1.kext and PhoenixNub12.kext.
Some CDs distributed by Sony BMG contain an extra partition for enhanced content, along with an application named "Start.app." Running the application shows an end user license agreement (EULA), and then prompts you for your administrator user name and password. After entering your administrator information, Start.app installs the kernel extensions, then quits.
Buried in the EULA is a reference that software will be installed.
The two kernel extensions were developed by SunnComm, a DRM technology company that was recently the butt of a joke article on p2p.net. The DRM technology installed on Windows systems is made by XCP.
Unlike the Windows DRM software, the Mac OS X version is installed only when a user accesses the enhanced content on a CD. TMO previously covered Sony BMG's troubles with DRM technology on November 10.
Observer Comments
Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:05 am Subject: It just keeps getting better
Now there is a virus that actually takes advantage of Sony's crappy DRM and infects the computer.
I smell a biggggg lawsuit coming.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20051110/tc_nm/sony_hack_dc
Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:26 am Subject: so yeah....
QuoteTiger wrote:
because we @#$ed up and missed the boat. iTMS kicks our A$$ and we have to find a way to circumvent Apple's superiority.
This shouldn't surprise anybody.
Sony, you just made me want to buy your songs from iTms more. And oh... if they're not there... not buying them. It's almost come to the point where I don't trust CD's any more. Yes, I know they're better quality but my ears and iPod can't tell the difference. My pocketbook can, they're half price, and I know what I'm getting on the iTms.
There's beena lot of issues between Sony / Apple (with the Australian iTms, Japan iTms, walkman vs ipod etc. Not cool
Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:28 am Subject: The other lables will probably start doing it
QuotePlaneten Paultje wrote:
Let's just start with not buying anything from Sony BMG, SunnComm or XCP ever again......
I couldn't find out reading the articles, specifically what do the kernel extensions do, what is their purpose? What ever it is, if the industry thinks that it works, the other lables will probably start doing it.
Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:36 am Subject: What about an older OS?
[quote="fartheststar"]
QuoteTiger wrote:
It's almost come to the point where I don't trust CD's any more.
Well, you can still trust "CDs", but not all these DRM discs they've been selling instead of CDs.
Everytime a company complains about CD sales going down, I have to ask "Well, how many REAL CDs are you still making?"
Concidering the PC version of this DRM that is installed secretly has allowed a virus to exploit it, Sony has basically become a hacker company that should be prosecuted as any hacker that writes viruses and trojan horses would be.
I do find it interesting that the Mac won't allow this virus to be installed without and admin password, while the Windows version was installed without any user knowledge.
QuoteAl Swearengen wrote:
I couldn't find out reading the articles, specifically what do the kernel extensions do, what is their purpose? What ever it is, if the industry thinks that it works, the other lables will probably start doing it.
They will indeed, unless we make clear to them that we will not be paying them for behaving like criminals.
Unfortunately, there will always be those whose mindset is indeed criminal and I expect them to simply try to perfect their techniques and cover themselves through new laws that will put any and all responsability with the consumers.......
Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:04 pm Subject: Goodbye, Sony
Sony is off my personal vendor list. In the next couple of years, we'll probably buy a new TV, camcorder, digital audio recorder, and probably the occasional portable music player. I can tell you right now, what we end up bringing home won't say "Sony" on the box. If they're going to pull crap like this with a $15 CD, what's to say they won't slip circuitry or software into more expensive products that will keep us from doing perfectly legitimate things with our new toys?
Can't trust Sony. Won't buy their stuff.
Fri Nov 11, 2005 2:54 pm Subject: Re: Goodbye, Sony
This is just the beginning:
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=27568
>I do find it interesting that the Mac won't allow this virus to be installed >without and admin password, while the Windows version was installed without >any user knowledge.
True, but is still uses a Trojan technique to install unnecessary extensions to your operating system (i.e. to access the 'enhanced content' it needs to install kernel extensions - I don't think so).
I hope the EULA documents what the extensions do, or they will be in deep legal trouble. Judging by Sony's attitude to the whole thing so far, they probably don't even know what they do - they bought in the Windows rootkit from a third party company, who obviously sold Sony on the idea without Sony understanding that it was hacking. Best quote - the Sony higher-up who said most consumers didn't know what a rootkit was so it wasn't a problem.
Yup, just like once upon a time, most consumers didn't know what a virus was, or spyware was.
Recent Headlines - Updated Tuesday, August 19th, 2008
- Tue., 5:00 PM
- Corsaire Publishes Guide on Hardening OS X Leopard
- 3:30 PM
- iPodObserver - Pacific Crest Sees Big Jump in iPhone Surfing, Rising Apple Cash Flow
- 3:00 PM
- iPodObserver - Blog: Infineon Drivers May be Cause of iPhone 3G Dropped Calls
- 1:35 PM
- Cooliris 1.8 Adds Safari 3.1 Support
- 1:15 PM
- PCW: Intel, Dell Innovate for Mobile Users, Windows Sleeps
- 12:30 PM
- Psystar Misses Another Deadline to Respond, Given Extension
- 12:00 PM
- Dr. Mac: Rants & Raves - Episode #84: When Good iPhones Go Bad...
- 10:50 AM
- Apple Intros New Get a Mac Ads
- 10:15 AM
- Hot Forum Topic - Reader Perception: Apple's PR
- 9:40 AM
- Apple Tops PCs in Customer Satisfaction Study
- 9:00 AM
- Apple to Open Fort Worth Store on Aug 23
- 8:30 AM
- Apple's $20 Billion Cash and a 21st Century Mission
- 7:50 AM
- iPodObserver - Apple Tosses MobileMe Users 60 Day Credit
- 6:00 AM
- iPO Review - DLO Portable Speakers for iPhone
The Mac Observer Reader Specials
- Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com
- OWC: Juice up your iPod w/NewerTech High Capacity Battery from $19.99 Free Installation Videos for most models. Pro Installation Service w/FedEx Shipping From $57.95 (Battery Included). - www.MacSales.com
New iMac 800Mhz Memory 4GB $98, 2GB $50. Click to Maximize your Macs...
Mac observers can now play Party Poker for Mac as well as Mac casino games by going to MacPokerOnline.com.
RamJet Memory: Mac Pro FB-DIMMs: 2Gig kit $115, 4Gig kit $179, 8Gig kit for $355! 500G Seagate Hard Drive $129! Click hereFor the latest Apple products use Ciao a comparison website to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate cell phones.
Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

