Cybersecurity expert says outdated technology can sometimes be safer from hackers

A renowned cybersecurity expert has spent years using obsolete email software for an unexpected reason: hackers may simply have forgotten about it.

Finnish cybersecurity expert Mikko Hyppönen chose the discontinued email program Eudora instead of mainstream services such as Gmail or Hotmail. He describes the approach as “security by antiquity”, or “security by obsolescence”.

The idea is that cybercriminals, who typically target widely used and profitable systems, may have little incentive to attack technology used by only a small number of people.

However, Hyppönen stresses that keeping software updated and fully patched remains the best security practice. The strategy of relying on obsolete technology only works in specific circumstances and is not generally recommended.

A similar approach has been seen in aviation. Ireland’s aviation authorities decided to keep some older ground-based radio navigation systems in operation because modern GPS systems can be vulnerable to electronic jamming.

The unusual concept highlights a counterintuitive cybersecurity principle: sometimes, technology that has been forgotten by everyone else can also be overlooked by hackers.