[DUG] Backdoors

[John Bird]

Define backdoor.....

I have two extra functional modes in most of my programs, Boolean flags set
when a program starts (eg by checking an ini file), so the same EXE file can
run in different modes, or enable extra functions.

-One set only when running "in-house" and usually used to trigger generating
log files or extra information for inspecting, used for streamlining testing
of programs, and such code automatically disabled at sites and will never
run even if still present in the program.  Such code generally removed from
final versions.

-Second is a test or "info" mode, can be set at any site for a screen and I
can tell users to turn this on or turn it off, it sets a program to display
more information on screen or to a log file.  Again for troubleshooting
problems. Transparent as users can also access this.   Gives disagnostics
only, or in some cases may disable functions, never enables anything extra.

As far as backdoor, I presume you mean a extra privileged login or access
code that the developer has to allow greater access to a live system,  I
have never needed that, as these two transparent ways give me all the tools
I need to diagnose systems.

If diagnosing a particular obscure problem with client data, then I may if
needed copy their data onto my system and use the "in-house" mode to
diagnose.  Again this is transparent as it is done with their knowledge and
agreement at the time and also cannot affect their live data.

What do others do?

John

-----Original Message-----
From: delphi-bounces at ns3.123.co.nz [mailto:delphi-bounces at ns3.123.co.nz] On
Behalf Of peter at webcentre.co.nz
Sent: Thursday, 4 May 2006 9:47 a.m.
To: NZ Borland Developers Group - Delphi List
Subject: RE: [DUG] In case you're interested (or buy stuff)


> That sounds pretty scary to me.  How many other devs leave back 
> doors???

Never. Not once in over 25 years.

cheers,
peter

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