America's Top Cyber Security Agency Declares War on C/C++ - Is Your Software About to Get Hacked?

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are taking aim at the long-standing stalwarts of programming languages - C and C++. These languages have been the mainstay of software development for decades, but with their memory-unsafe nature, they have become a thorn in the side of security experts.

In a stern warning to software makers, the agencies have issued a stern warning, cautioning them against using C and C++ by 2026. The warning has sent shockwaves throughout the programming community, with many left wondering if it's time to start rethinking their software development strategies.

The root of the problem lies in the memory-unsafe nature of these languages. C and C++ allow direct manipulation of memory, which can lead to memory leaks and bugs that can be exploited by malicious actors. With the prevalence of software in modern life, from smartphones to smart homes and from cars to critical infrastructure, the risk of security breaches is higher than ever before.

According to CISA and the FBI, the use of memory-unsafe languages like C and C++ is a primary contributor to these security breaches. By continuing to use these languages, software makers are essentially leaving the back door open to cyber threats.

The agencies are urging software makers to migrate to memory-safe languages like Java, Swift, and Rust. These languages offer built-in memory safety features that make it much harder for hackers to exploit bugs and vulnerabilities.

But what does this mean for the software development world? For one, it's a wake-up call for developers to start thinking about security from the ground up. No longer can software makers rely on patching up vulnerabilities after the fact; instead, they need to design security into the software from the very beginning.

Furthermore, this move could signal a fundamental shift in how software is developed. With the emphasis on memory-safe languages, we may see a new breed of software that prioritizes security above all else. This could lead to more robust and secure software that is less prone to vulnerabilities.

As the 2026 deadline looms, software makers are having to rapidly reassess their development strategies. It remains to be seen whether this warning will be enough to spark widespread change in the industry, but one thing is clear: the days of memory-unsafe languages like C and C++ are numbered.