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Symantec Rootkittin’ Around
John Stith
Staff Writer
2006-01-12
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We thought we could trust our security software companies, but that doesn't seem to be the case. Symantec recently got caught with their pants down… er… cloaked when they came clean about a rootkit they put into their Norton SystemWorks product. Apparently, the Sony BMG fiasco caused them to rethink things a bit.
The kids in Cupertino have been naughty. Even though they say their intentions we just by helping to keep people from unwittingly deleting files, they realized this is a problem area. According to an eWeek article, several security folks told them they should really not use that particular method.
Sony BMG has had some real problems dealing with their own rootkit row that many have heard about by now. Sony is facing legitimate legal problems, particularly in Texas, where the state attorney general has filed charges. Symantec has reached that level of scrutiny just yet. But perhaps they should.
While Symantec did admit the rootkit of their own volition, it makes one wonder what else these companies do to one's systems the user is unaware of. They hide things inside their software and do things without the users knowledge even though the user probably agreed to something like it in the EULA. But then who actually reads the EULA top to bottom?
Many security software companies dominate the landscape. Companies like Symantec, McAfee, TrendMicro, Secunia, Sophos, F-Secure, Sunbelt and the list goes on. There are literally dozens of these companies out there, all vying to protect your computer or your server and other networked components. These watchmen watch over your networked electronics for you for a fee.
They look out for viruses and worms, they help with spyware, popups and other similar problems people might have. And it's all certainly needed. If not, we'd be inundated with all these problems constantly. But after this problem with Symantec's rootkit, we must ask one basic question:
"Who watches the watchmen?"
About the Author:
John is a staff writer for SecurityProNews covering cyber security.
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