WhyNot?

Compiler Security Optimization

Category: Software
Responses: 3 (3 in support, 0 neutral, 0 in opposition)
Number of views: 318
Tracking: Track this idea
Community Rating:Average AverageYour Rating:

One of the problems with patching security holes is that the bad guys can compare two recent versions, discover the change and create an exploit (in some cases automatically). If a victim is not using the latest version of the software, then they're toast.

Normally, a compiler will optimize a program/library for space or speed. If, however, the optimizer included randomized register assignments, conditional ordering, selection of optimizations, etc.; then new versions would have huge numbers of changes from older ones and analysis of the change would be much more complicated and expensive.

With sufficient work, automated comparisons of differently optimized code may be possible, but this is a long way off.

nihil, Apr 18 2008

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

agree I agree no opinion No opinion disagree I disagree

Users who liked this idea also liked:

Other ideas in category (Software):

Vector Datatype (1 votes) Average
Triangular Pixels (2 votes) Average
Forwarding sent email message (3 votes) Average
Compiler Security Optimization (3 votes) Average
mute a web page (8 votes) Strong
Organise the Start menu (6 votes) Average
Simple Shared Key Setup (1 votes) Average
Attachment Notation (121 votes) Very strong
DDR-style piano software (4 votes) Average
root means suid (2 votes) Average
Scorchware (2 votes) Average
Six Degrees of Computation (2 votes) Average
X-drive ==> 2 physical drives (3 votes) Average
Fast parallel secure hashing (1 votes) Average
Cascading search (1 votes) Average
Standardized EULA (2 votes) Average
Make Photo Slideshow yourself (2 votes) Average
Searching for images (2 votes) Average
Description field for email (3 votes) Average
Honeypot feedback/automation (1 votes) Average
Audio bass and treble (3 votes) Average
Extension that highlights tags (1 votes) Average
Upper-lower case (2 votes) Average
New image file format (2 votes) Average
Encryption (2 votes) Average
dual scroll bars (6 votes) Average
Tabbed Working (3 votes) Average
Temporary file highlight (5 votes) Strong
Better Search Engine Links (2 votes) Average
Smarter Programming (4 votes) Average
Linux Distro for Business (2 votes) Average
File multiple rev eliminator (3 votes) Average
Mech. Design Software (2 votes) Average
Checking email addresses (3 votes) Average
Why Powerpoint? Be nonlinear (6 votes) Strong
Chat with iTunes Listeners (2 votes) Average
Studying leaf patterns (2 votes) Average
Ebay database (2 votes) Average
Encrypts the whole OS (2 votes) Average
Wind offset for car (3 votes) Weak
Collaborative License Rating (4 votes) Average
Multiscopic image modeler (2 votes) Average
Simple fix for posting here (1 votes) Average
Torrent-based podcasting (2 votes) Average
Browser Preloads Next Page (4 votes) Average
Officepets (3 votes) Average
Salty encryption (1 votes) Average
Self Authentication & Decryptn (1 votes) Average
Ductile disk encryption (2 votes) Average
Invention Management Software (3 votes) Average
Printing Cost per Page (1 votes) Average
Community Font Classification (1 votes) Average
Ubiquitous virtual honeypots (7 votes) Strong
MS Outlook spouses (1 votes) Average
MS Outlook Contacts updates (1 votes) Average
One card for the wallet (11 votes) Strong
Camera as A4 Scanner (6 votes) Strong
Ogg/PCM (3 votes) Average
Keyboard equivalents (1 votes) Average
OS for visually impaired (4 votes) Average
Window Size Limiter (1 votes) Average
Print Police (1 votes) Average
MS Outlook Highlighter (1 votes) Average
Eye-Tracking Video Drivers (2 votes) Average
Linipedea (3 votes) Weak
MS Word Bookmarks & Summaries (3 votes) Average
anti-virus T-cells (2 votes) Average
savable scroll bars (2 votes) Average
save changes dialog options (3 votes) Average
Viral Marketing in Open Source (7 votes) Weak
Microsoft CD Bug Fixes (4 votes) Average
Virtual Scanner Software (4 votes) Average
Economics Simulation (5 votes) Average
Better Shrink Wrapped License (3 votes) Average
Bayesian learning for (3 votes) Average
enclosures (2 votes) Average
Chat Prog & Problem Solving (1 votes) Average
Comments from other members:

Add your comment

Clever! And just a little such variation would do the job, at least for three years, and give the defense some breathing time.

Roger Knights, Jun 24 2008