I love this one: it turns out that Sony’s DRM Rootkit that’s been getting people up-in-arms the past few days can actually be used to combat the process scanning software deployed by World of Warcraft maker Blizzard Entertainment. As it turns out, the rootkit can be used to hide your WoW application, making it undetectable by the anti-cheating software developed by Blizzard (cheesily nicknamed “The Warden”).
Sony’s copy protection software apparently hides the app by adding the prefix “$sys$” to file names (complicated, I know), giving those with illegal copies of World of Warcraft a ingenious new way of providing more time to get their game on without having to hide their tracks. As an aside, I don’t really understand why people hack subscription-based games; any time you’re online for an extended period of time you continually increase your chances of being caught. Given the quantity of time these people likely spend playing the game, you’d think they’d reach a point where they realize that they’re better off paying, but go figure.
Bottom line: So, [name of company releasing spyware/DRM software], see what happens when you release secret apps? See?
[Cheers to BoingBoing]