It was done already in past, and worse, with legit purchased DVDs:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal

 

This is very interesting, I didn't know about this. I can't find the news right now on Google, but it happened a few years ago. There was a streaming company that threatened to introduce a type of "virus" to anyone who illegally downloaded a movie, apart from filing a lawsuit. However, I read it quickly on the web, and sometimes many media outlets deceive just to attract an audience. There was also a problem with Google a few years ago because they sold user information. It was related to the data collected by Google Street View cars, but I'm not exactly sure about the details. They had gathered certain information and then sold it. This was reported in several media outlets.

 

This one, I do remember. The details about the Tone2 thing were better thought out by them, actually. If what I have read about it previously was correct. It was not a Remote attack, it was a program/plugin installer that deleted plugins when it was executed locally, and voluntarily. By buying or installing their software, the person installing the program had already agreed to the conditions of the EULA (and of course, without reading the entire thing). No rootkit evidence left on the HDD like Sony.

It did not Deltree the hard disk or render Windows/MacOS inoperable. It just deleted all your installed plugins. With Windows, this is even easier for them to act ignorant about it and call it a "innocent programming error" or oversight because Windows plugins are/were normally installed in Windows /temp folder, right? All they have to say is they were clearing out a Temporary folder of any files because they had found some that caused conflicts with the installation of their own software; and that was probably inside the EULA.

Pretty shady tactics; but with no measurable system downtime, damage to the system, and you agreed to the EULA and ran the thing on purpose. You'd be right to be pissed off about it, but no attorney is going to sue someone because you had to reinstall your effects plugins. It would probably be easier to hire one to fight a speeding ticket.

 

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Let's say you are using a VPN. You run an exe file which installs a RAT. Said trojan decides your computer would like to silently join an IRC server and channel; and it neglects to let you know about it. But it hangs out there, scanning the channel for text commands it figures you would like piped back past your firewall. What does your little VPN do to block commands being sent to the computer?

It does Zero.