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History's Worst Software Bugs

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the when-software-goes-bad dept.

bharatm writes "Wired has an article on the 10 worst sofware bugs.. From the article 'Coding errors have sparked explosions, crippled interplanetary probes -- even killed people. Here's our pick for the 10 worst bugs ever, but the judging wasn't easy.'"

13 of 645 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Microsoft's striking absence by jzeejunk · · Score: 1, Funny

    That's because it's quality vs. quantity.

    --
    sarchasm
  2. Well, that makes me feel better by PIPBoy3000 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Bringing down the company's intranet countless times over the years almost seems like an amusing little distraction. No one died, nothing blew up, and I've even managed to keep my job. It must be that people are getting used to these "software bug" excuses for the various problems that pop up with computers. I'll have to remember that for next time.

    Caller: "My computer exploded and I'm bleeding profusely!"
    911 Operator: "Must be a software bug."

  3. hey, we're all still here by Colin+Smith · · Score: 3, Funny

    So nobody's hit on the really big one yet.

    --
    Deleted
    1. Re:hey, we're all still here by meringuoid · · Score: 1, Funny
      So nobody's hit on the really big one yet.

      Um, what really big bug?

      FROM: it_director@norad.mil
      TO: president@whitehouse.gov
      SUBJECT: New systems

      Mr President, I'm pleased to report that the new national radar systems are fully tested and operational.

      FROM: r.q.hacker@norad.mil
      TO: it_director@norad.mil
      SUBJECT: possible bug in calendar module
      UNREAD

      Hey, we may have a problem in the calendar system. I suspect there's a memory allocation issue here, we've been seeing occasional bugs in testing. Might be worth delaying rollout.

      FROM: president@whitehouse.gov
      TO: SACEUR@nato.int
      SUBJECT: Re: Your plans

      Please find attached confirmation that your proposed military exercises to be held on Feb 29th have been authorised. I look forward to evaluating the performance of our strategic defences in a full-scale battle simulation.

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  4. This bug reminds me of a Dilbert comic by technoextreme · · Score: 4, Funny
    1988-1996 -- Kerberos Random Number Generator. The authors of the Kerberos security system neglect to properly "seed" the program's random number generator with a truly random seed. As a result, for eight years it is possible to trivially break into any computer that relies on Kerberos for authentication. It is unknown if this bug was ever actually exploited.

    Hehehe.... This reminds me of a Dilbert cartoon. Here is what I can remember:
    Some guy: And here is our random number generator.
    Another guy: 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2.
    Dilbert: That isn't very random though.
    Some guy: He is randomly getting the same number.
    Anyone actually know which comic I am thinking of.
    --
    Ooo man the floppy drive is broken. No wait. The computer is just upside down.
  5. Re:The meat of the article... by meringuoid · · Score: 4, Funny
    The resulting event is reportedly the largest non-nuclear explosion in the planet's history.

    The former dinosaurian population of the Yucatan Peninsula might disagree...

    --
    Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  6. What? No Windows ME? by Guysmiley777 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Yeah, I'm fairly certain that Windows ME (or Windows: MoneyGrab) was one of the largest software bugs ever written.

    --
    Coding with assembly is like playing with Legos. Coding an application in assembly is like building a car with Legos.
  7. Couple of Bugs I thought of by randomErr · · Score: 2, Funny

    2004 Luxembourg blackout
    Patriot Missle - Missles had to be shut down once a day because targeting system would cycle every minute and change the internal cordinating system a fraction of a degree. Over the course of a few days the targeting system would be completely useless.
    PS/2 shutdown bug - Analog copiers at the time fuser componants worked athe same frequency as the processor's shutdown signal.
    Minus World - Super Mario Brother - A hidden water glitch
    ErMac - Mortal Combat

    --
    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  8. *Phew* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Looks like they haven't found the bugs in my code yet

  9. Re:Predictions are hard by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Clearly these individuals are not overrating their abilities but are in fact both victims of software bugs!

  10. Re:Predictions are hard by BenEnglishAtHome · · Score: 3, Funny
    The tendency that people have to overrate their abilities fascinates Cornell University social psychologist David Dunning, PhD.

    I'll bet the guy just LOVES the first few installments each season of American Idol.

  11. Re:gets() by mfrank · · Score: 2, Funny

    All you really have to do is force everyone at the company to use an include file with this:

    #define gets() DONT_USE_GETS_YOU_MORON()

  12. Re:TEH MOST RETARDED IDEA EVAR by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    There will always be a difference between professional and amateur grade.

    That's why I only drive professional grade. http://www.gmc.com/