Management and the Technology Professional – B302

Case study answer 1

The developer should not have developed the rootkit software because the rootkit’s intension was to be used in an ‘illegal’ manner by Sony BMG. The user of the music CD is unaware of what is being installed (the rootkit) onto their system. The EULA for the product has no mention of a rootkit or the inability to uninstall or delete the software. This process can be interpreted to contravene the Computer Misuse Act of 1990 (section 3.2).

If the developer was in any doubt as to the use of the software then they should have performed a more accurate assessment of the potential risks involved with both the data privacy and the security issues involved with the use of the rootkit.

i feel that the creation of this rootkit also shows contempt for copyright law, fair-trading and more importantly for the public interest.