Death to Old Software

Death to Old Software
Jon Lasser, 2002-04-03

We all know that outdated network software is security hazard. The solution: hard-wired expiration codes that self-destruct an old program when it's past its prime.

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I don't like it. 2002-04-03
Anonymous

You are right. 2002-04-03
J. J. Horner

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Not Really Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Reaten

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Steve (1 replies)

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Anonymous (1 replies)

I have a better solution 2002-04-04
A Debian User (1 replies)

I have a better solution 2002-04-11
Anonymous

Counting the cost 2002-04-03
Working poor

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Anonymous

Good idea 2002-04-03
Anonymous (1 replies)

Re: Good idea 2005-10-29
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
Paul Wouters

Death to Old Software 2002-04-03
CodePunk

A really bad idea: The solution is better placed elsewhere 2002-04-03
Robert A. Klahn (rklahn@acm.org) (1 replies)

A really bad idea: The solution is better placed elsewhere 2002-04-04
CCH

a sane suggestion 2002-04-03
Anonymous

Very stupid, here's why 2002-04-03
Anonymous

What a horrible idea. 2002-04-03
Steve Briggs

Is it a bug or has it expired 2002-04-03
Anonymous

It is hard enough determining what causes stuff to quit without having to run through code trying to find out if the software expired, or something is really wrong. Keeping up with all the updates for the ~10,000 pieces of software in my company is hard enough without adding logic bombs and time bombs to the code.

Is it a bug?
Is it a memory overflow that will (merely) take a server reset to cure?
Is it a virus, trojan or hacker?
Is it expired software?

Thanks for making my life harder.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/72/11633#11633

You have got to me kidding me. 2002-04-03
Anonymous

What about incompatibilities 2002-04-03
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software - this is a belated April Fool's Joke, right? 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Monumentally *BAD* Idea 2002-04-04
Arne Flones

If it aint broke don;t fix it 2002-04-04
Anonymous

other options? 2002-04-04
Mac guy

Moronic iin the extreme... 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software - What a Crock 2002-04-04
Paul Mauriks

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Chicken