Merge pull request #1392 from achow101/prefinal-alert

Alert system retirement notice

_alerts/2016-10-17-alert-retirement.md

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+---
+## This file is licensed under the MIT License (MIT) available on
+## http://opensource.org/licenses/MIT.
+
+title: "Alert System Retirement"
+shorturl: "alert-retirement"
+active: true
+banner: "Alert system is being retired (click here to read)"
+bannerclass: "info"
+---
+
+## Summary
+
+The network wide Alert system is being retired. **_No Bitcoins are at risk and this warning may be safely ignored._** 
+Upgrade to the newest version of your wallet software to no longer see the alert.
+
+## Reasons for Retirement
+
+The network wide Alert system was created by Satoshi Nakamoto as a means of informing Bitcoin users of any important
+information regarding Bitcoin. It has been used in the past to inform users about important network events such as
+accidental blockchain forks. However, the Alert system also represents a large source of centralization in Bitcoin.
+The holders of the singular Alert Key can at any time send an alert which could affect the entire network. As more
+developers join, the Alert Key is given to others, but cannot be taken away from those who have left. This has led
+to the Alert Key potentially falling into the hands of malicious actors who could use it to disrupt the network. Because
+there is only one Alert key, it is not possible to prevent former developers from sending an alert nor is it possible
+to identify who sent an Alert.
+
+In addition, the Alert system is primarily Bitcoin Core specific. Many other wallets have their own systems in place but
+still must have handling for the Alert system because it is network wide. Something specific for one software should
+not be imposed on the entire network.
+
+The Alert system has also lost its usefulness. It is no longer necessary to use it to inform users about problematic network
+events as users can easily get their information from any major Bitcoin news outlet. 
+
+## The Retirement Plan
+
+Retirement of the Alert system consists of a pre-final alert (this alert) which will warn about the impending retirement, a 
+final maximum sequence alert which cannot be overridden and displays a static "Alert Key Compromised" message, and the
+publishing of the Alert key itself. The final alert will be hard coded into Bitcoin Core 0.14 to ensure that all old nodes
+receive the final alert.
+
+|Action|Description|Date|
+|---|---|---|
+|Pre-final Alert Posts|Posts on Bitcoin.org, various forums, and various mailing lists that the Alert system will be retired|2016-10-17|
+|Pre-final Alert|The alert itself warning that the Alert system will be retired|2016-10-18|
+|Final Alert|Max sequence Alert to disable the Alert system|2017 (Will coincide with Bitcoin Core 0.14 Release Candidate process)|
+|Alert key released|The Alert key will be made publicly available|1-2 months after the Final Alert|
+
+## Software without the Alert system
+
+Most major Bitcoin wallets have already removed the alert system in the most recent releases. The software listed below 
+are guaranteed to have removed/disabled the Alert system or allow you to disable it.
+
+* Bitcoin Core 0.13.0, 0.12.1
+* Bitcoin Core 0.10.3, 0.11.x, and 0.12.x can disable alerts with `-alerts=0`
+* Armory 0.94.1+
+
+## See also
+
+* [Original email proposing retirement](https://lists.linuxfoundation.org/pipermail/bitcoin-dev/2016-September/013104.html)
+* [Pull request removing Alert system](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/7692)
+* [Removal discussion on github](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/6260)
+* [Pull request disabling alerts](https://github.com/bitcoin/bitcoin/pull/6274)
+* [IRC Discussion](https://botbot.me/freenode/bitcoin-core-dev/2016-09-22/?msg=73446303&page=6)