Sony BMG's DRM software, known as XCP, included so-called rootkit technology. Security experts warned last week that the rootkit was being exploited by hackers to hide viruses.
In a statement issued on Friday, Sony BMG explained that it was “aware that a computer virus is circulating that may affect computers with XCP content protection software.”
It continued: “We stand by content protection technology as an important tool to protect our intellectual property rights and those of our artists. Nonetheless, as a precautionary measure, Sony BMG is temporarily suspending the manufacture of CDs containing XCP technology.”
The music giant did not issue a recall for CDs that have already been sold, or are still on the market.
The suspension was announced a day before a blog posting from Jason Garms, Architect and Group PM with Microsoft’s anti-malware team, revealing that the firm has labelled Sony BMG’s rootkit as spyware.
“We have analysed this software,” wrote Garms, “and have determined that in order to help protect our customers we will add a detection and removal signature for the rootkit component of the XCP software to the Windows AntiSpyware beta” – the firm’s anti-spyware removal tool.
