Sony to recall 2 million CDs that put computers at risk

About 2 million Sony BMG music CDs are being recalled after anti-piracy software embedded on the discs has been found to make computers running Windows products more vulnerable to hackers.

The CDs, released under 52 different titles, install a program on Windows-based computers that limits the number of copies that can be made, such as is done with MP3 files.

There is no danger to those who use the products in CD players.

Army and Air Force Exchange Service spokesman Judd Anstey said that the company is in the process of recalling the CDs.

AAFES customers can return the product to their local exchanges for a full refund or exchange the disk for the same title.

AAFES expects to have replacement CDs in stores by mid-December.

Navy Exchange public affairs officials did not respond to Stars and Stripes by press time on whether or not these affected CDs are being sold at their stores.

Sony BMG has instituted its own recall of the affected products, with details available on its Web site.

Affected CDs include those by artists such as Celine Dion, Cyndi Lauper, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles and Louis Armstrong.

A complete list is available on the Web site.

The company also has released a security patch, meant to fix the vulnerability, to major software and antivirus companies, according to information on the Web site.

It also states that it will soon be releasing an updated procedure for people to remove the software from their computers.

Its original fix, according to news reports, made computers more vulnerable than the original software.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.