What makes a rootkit?

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Symantec semantics

I can only suppose that Mr. Weafer of Symantec Security was not adequately informed of the technical details of the situation before declaring "A rootkit is used by people trying to maintain remote access to a system. Sony is an example of a much more limited technology. It was only designed to hide itself."

In fact the technology in question was specifically designed to permit Sony or its subcontractors to install new software on the user's computer without the user's knowledge or consent. It is precisly this feature which was proven by researchers Ed Felten and Alex Halderman to allow "any web page you visit to download, install, and run any code it likes on your computer. Any web page can seize control of your computer; then it can do anything it likes."

As Felton remarks: "That?s about as serious as a security flaw can get."

see link: http://www.freedom-to-tinker.com/?p=927

Posted by: adamw@...   Posted on: 11/21/05 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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