Sony's DRM Rootkit Comes in Mac Flavor, Too

Sony is reportedly pulling its digital rights management "rootkit" from the market. But it isn't reporting everything.

"The Sony copy-protection software does not install itself on Macintosh computers or ordinary CD and DVD players," Reuters reported today. There's just one problem with that statement: it happens to be flat-out wrong. While the XCP version of copy protection is for Windows, there is another Mac-only version of copy protection installed by Sony/BMG CDs.

To establish this point, one simply has to refer to a poster on the popular Macintosh site MacInTouch. The poster notes that Imogen Heap's new CD, "Speak for Yourself," on RCA Victor (a BMG subsidiary), has an extra partition for "enhanced" content. Along with Windows files, there is a Mac file present called "Start.app."

When run, a EULA is first displayed (which does inform the user that software is going to be installed without saying exactly what that software will do).

Click here to read more about Sony's decision to temporarily suspend production of CDs with its DRM technology.

The user then is prompted by the program for a user name and password. After that information is provided, the program seemingly quits. However, it actually installs two kernel extensions, PhoenixNub1.kext and PhoenixNub12.kext, in the OS X system files.

These turn out to be part of a DRM codebase developed by SunnComm.

According to the SunComm Web site, their MediaMax DRM allows for a limited amount of CD burns from the source material, and then will block further copying. The DRM also can make time-expiring (or number-of-play-expiring) copies of the tracks.

Repeated calls to SunComm for comment were not returned by the time this article was posted.

So, while Sony may be backing down from its acts regarding Windows modification, it is yet to be seen whether the recent firestorms will cause it to pull the DRM installed on Macs.