GEOFFRIL@UNION.BITNET.UUCP (02/20/87)
Concerning the recent request for methods for locking software, I'd like to relate a glitch that happend at our site a couple of years ago... We had a subtle malfunction, such that the system clock on our VAX reset back to some base date (ca. 1975). Since folks don't generally pay all that much attention to the clock, it was a day or so before someone noticed and reset the thing. In the interim, several large stat packs died, insisting that our licenses had expired. A fast clock reset quickly fixed the problem. To those who place destructive time bombs in programs, I would have been most upset if we had been forced to reinstall software just because the clock got confused. To those who use nondestructive time bombs, I now know how to defeat you... just reset my clock back to the legitimate period. Clearly, writing such code is a waste of time.... Most VAX systems are bought by corporations who are much more aware of legalities than individual micro buyers. I doubt seriously that time bombs have a sigficant}i positive effect on sales. Indeed, the implicit distrust will lose more sales that you gain from the bomb. Please keep such trash out of your commercial programs. Leo geoffrion, Skidmore GEOFFRIL@UNION.BITNET