Researchers: Sony software in your PC presents vulnerability

Here’s a bit of news that the more tech-savvy of us should take note of: the software included in high-end memory sticks sold by electronics and media giant Sony Corp can make your personal computer vulnerable to outside attacks. This alarming bit of info comes from none other than researchers from two security firms.

So what’s the actual product from Sony that’s been causing all this hub-bub? Specifically, the MicroVault USB memory stick and fingerprint reader. These two products seem to have software that creates a hidden directory on the computer’s hard drive.

This hidden directory is known as a root kit, and it pretty much opens your PC up for hackers to exploit and take advantage of – all with you none the wiser.

It doesn’t end there: not only is the root kit undetectable by normal means (searching through your folders, browsing through your directies) – it’s also hidden away from some of today’s more popular computer security software, or those programs you use to sniff out viruses, spyware and other sorts of malware.

This is definitely not good, as it’s not only a very real vulnerability, but one that’s practically permanent (barring a full hard drive wipe). And this recent finding by F-Secure, a Finnish security software maker, has been confirmed by none other than McAfee Inc.

What can be done, then? For now, you might want to beef up your computer’s security measures, if you’ve been using the aforementioned devices, and hope for the best – as well as cross our fingers that Sony quickly catches wind of this and resolves the issue as soon as possible.

Here’s a bit of news that the more tech-savvy of us should take note of: the software included in high-end memory sticks sold by electronics and media giant Sony Corp can make your personal computer vulnerable to outside attacks. This alarming bit of info comes from none other than researchers from two security firms.

So what’s the actual product from Sony that’s been causing all this hub-bub? Specifically, the MicroVault USB memory stick and fingerprint reader. These two products seem to have software that creates a hidden directory on the computer’s hard drive.

This hidden directory is known as a root kit, and it pretty much opens your PC up for hackers to exploit and take advantage of – all with you none the wiser.

It doesn’t end there: not only is the root kit undetectable by normal means (searching through your folders, browsing through your directies) – it’s also hidden away from some of today’s more popular computer security software, or those programs you use to sniff out viruses, spyware and other sorts of malware.

This is definitely not good, as it’s not only a very real vulnerability, but one that’s practically permanent (barring a full hard drive wipe). And this recent finding by F-Secure, a Finnish security software maker, has been confirmed by none other than McAfee Inc.

What can be done, then? For now, you might want to beef up your computer’s security measures, if you’ve been using the aforementioned devices, and hope for the best – as well as cross our fingers that Sony quickly catches wind of this and resolves the issue as soon as possible.