"Bumper sticker" definition of secure software

[rgk at cerias.purdue.edu (Rajeev Gopalakrishna)]

Reliability is concerned only with accidental failures while security has
to consider malicious attacks as well. The difference is in the intent of
the software user: benign or malicious.

And for a bumper sticker, here is one for the pessimists:

"Secure Software is a Myth"

and another version for the skeptics:

"Is Secure Software a Myth?"

:)

-rajeev


On Mon, 17 Jul 2006, Peter G. Neumann wrote:

> You suggest:
>
>   Secure software is software that remains dependable despite efforts to
>   compromise its dependability.
>
> You need a bigger-picture view that encompasses trustworthiness
> and assurance.
>
> "Dependable systems are systems that remain dependable despite
> would-be compromises to their dependability."
>
> "Trustworthy systems are systems that are worthy of being trusted
> to satisfy their requirements (for security, reliability, survivability,
> safety, or whatever)."
>
> Security is generally too narrow by itself, because a system that is
> not reliable is not likely to be secure, especially when in
> unreliability mode!
>
> The principle of Keep It Simple is inherently unworkable with respect to
> security.  Security is inherently complex.  Trustworthiness is broader and
> even more complex.  But if you don't think about trustworthiness more
> broadly, what you get is not likely to be very secure.
>
> Forget the bumper sticker approach.
>
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