Computer: Security
timed data safety   (+2)  [vote for, against]
In software and hardware prevent changes to old files that have not been written to in a long time

To prevent damage to important system files and important data files prevent overwriting files that have only been read but not written to in a long time.

This way you can use an external disk or a disk on key, and be sure that that older stuff is write protected from viruses ruining your data. You can still get "infected" but your old data will be preserved.
-- pashute, Jan 11 2022

1. You could use a proper operating system not some mickey-mouse jobby. I'm sure [8th] could of filled us in on this.

2. What happens if you actively want to edit an old data file? for example, I have a spreadsheet <yay! Spreadsheets!> which I add another column to every 5 or 10 years.

3. But I also have another spreadsheet <wow!> I made an hour and a half ago which I want preserved untouched forever. So age is not the only determinant.

4. So there should be some kind of permissions system, perhaps a dialogue box that pops up:

------------------------------
Are you sure you want to
overwrite this file which is
*23 years 11 months 23 days
9 hours 35 minutes and
16 seconds* old?
[Yes] [no]
------------------------------

Which introduces our old friend User Error.
-- pocmloc, Jan 11 2022


Of course you should be able to manually edit the file, but not without some intervention of yours.
-- pashute, Jan 11 2022


Of course you should be able to manually edit the file, but not without some intervention of yours.
-- pashute, Jan 11 2022


For instances of data duplication, as an example.
-- RayfordSteele, Jan 11 2022


For instances of data duplication, as an example.
-- RayfordSteele, Jan 11 2022


I can't see the use meself. System files should be protected by default naturally, while any files software creates should be cordoned off, like James Corden at a pie eating contest.
-- 4and20, Jan 11 2022



random, halfbakery