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You might remember the Sony BMG Rootkit fiasco back in 2006 when the whole Internet was up in arms about Sony installing a rootkit in the name of Digital Restriction Rights Management.
Another piece of malware has been uncovered that has been linked to Sony and their Fingerprint reader.
Researchers have unearthed rootkit-like functionality in an enterprise security product.
Network security software from a Chinese developer includes processes deliberately hidden from a user and, even worse, a hidden directory, Trend Micro reports. Files in the hidden directory could exist below the radar of antivirus scanners, potentially creating a stealthy hiding place for computer viruses that their creators might seek to exploit.
Trend Micro has written to the software developers involved in what looks like a case of misguided software design, rather than anything worse. Pending a fix from software developers, Trend Micro has slapped a “hacking tool” warning on the rootkit-like component of the network security tool (called HKTL-BRUDEVIC).
The irony is it’s actually supposed to be some kind of enterprise security product the rootkit was found in, nothing was mentioned specifically as to which product or company however.
As stated above, it’s most likely misguided and uneducated software design rather than any kind of malicious intent.
It doesn’t name the developers except to say they are the same firm which bundles rootkit-like software with USB storage devices featuring fingerprint authentication.
Sony got a further black eye from issues with its MicroVault USM-F fingerprint reader software last year, which emerged a little over two years after its thorough mauling for including rootkit functionality on its music CDs. The feature, designed to stop fans ripping music tracks, created a security hole exploited by a number of Trojans.
It’s been directly linked to the Sony Microvault fingerprint reader, it’ll be interesting to see if this story develops any further.
Sony could really do without any further bad press on this.
Source: The Register