DRM => spyware
Freedom-to-tinker once again has continued analysis of the whole Sony DRM mess. They basically have taken a look at the ways of protecting an audio cd. Active protection (using software to prevent the duplication of music) is currently the main practical solution if you’re pursuing DRM. But what’s interesting is how much in common they have with spyware writers.
I think it’s an interesting analysis and they’ve really hit the nail on the head.
So if you’re designing a CD DRM system based on active protection, you face two main technical problems:
You have to get your software installed, even though the user doesn’t want it.
Once your software is installed, you have to keep it from being uninstalled, even though the user wants it gone.
These are the same two technical problems that spyware designers face.
They further go on to say that those that face the same technical problems usually come up with the same technical solutions.
In other words, once this type of DRM copy protection was decided upon it shouldn’t be a surprise that it wound up as a form of spyware.