Sadly, there's nothing this debate can do to settle your own mind. You have to decide, and, really, only you can do that.

It's been repeatedly pointed out that security via the on-chip-protection is about as good as none, and we all know that no amount of discussion will change that.

There are numerous ways in which one might react to that reality.

First of all, one can simply refuse to use the MCU's that claim to provide security, but don't provide it. That essentially says one shouldn't use the 805x, among others, as most MCU's claim to provide those features or something funcitonally equivalent.

Secondly, one could simply refuse to allow discussion or presentation of shortcuts to cracks in those feeble security measures that those chips provide, in this forum, since there are so many "shortcut seekers" who avail themselves of this resource.

Perhaps it should even be prohibited to help people with their homework, as that practice makes it easier for less and less competent individuals to find their way into the design and coding practice. Maybe they should have to present a checksum of all the 8052.COM-site-based references to a given subject before they're allowed to open a new thread.

Ultimately, however, the decision must be made by you, the webmaster, as it's your web site.

RE