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We all know that outdated network software is security hazard.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

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

Hey an even bigger security hole.. 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software... not in my organization 2002-04-04
Steven C. Buttgereit (sf@buttgereit.net)

Death to Old Software? 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

A really, really stupid idea 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software, you NUTS 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Elf Qrin

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Interesting, but No. 2002-04-04
Chris Fairbairn

Poor idea, poorly thought out, poorly described 2002-04-04
Rex Bob Lowenstein

Death to Old Software: Problems with this idea 2002-04-04
Vinnie

Horrible Idea !!! 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Jon,

Open Source is about choice. If I use Open Source software and I choose to not apply security patches then that is my choice. Putting expiring code in software is a bit to paternalistic to me. If you are seriously considering putting this in an open source software you write, please warn us, so we can choose not to use that software.

As a final thought: Would you buy a car that stpped working if you missed an oil change? I don't think so.

Please rethink this idea.

[ reply ]

Link to this comment: http://www.securityfocus.com/comments/columns/72/11668#11668

Bad Idea! 2002-04-04
Anonymous

Death to Old Software (good idea bad implementation) 2002-04-04
Anonymous

A cure worse than the disease? 2002-04-04
Echo8

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Paul

Death to Old Software 2002-04-04
Anon.

A Deepness in the Sky 2002-04-05
Adrian Close <adrian@close.wattle.id.au>

Death to Old Software 2002-04-05
wwb

Death to Old Software 2002-04-06
Grant Bayley

Isn't *availability* a security concern anymore? 2002-04-06
KSAJ

DJB does it right 2002-04-07
Anonymous

Extremely bad idea: here's why... 2002-04-07
Anonymous

Death to Old Software 2002-04-08
Anonymous