update-notifier design causes accidental unexpected reboots

[Alistair Buxton]

After installing a kernel update or similar, update-notifier pops up a window which says "Please reboot to start using updated software." When the window appears, the reboot button is highlighted by default, which means pressing space will instantly reboot the computer.

Suppose that somebody types at 50 WPM for 4 hours per day, making 60,000 keystrokes per day. Space is the most commonly pressed key at about 15% of all keystrokes, or 9000 per day.

The average human reaction time is 200msec. That means if update-notifier pops up 200msec or less before the time you press space, you won't be able to do anything about it. Your computer is going to reboot.

9000 * 200msec / 1 day = 0.02 - ie every time this stupid window pops up there is a 2% chance the user will accidentally reboot their computer and lose all their work, and they probably won't even realise what happened.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: update-notifier 0.154.1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-46.77-generic 3.13.11-ckt15
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-46-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.7
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Thu Mar 12 00:28:10 2015
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-06-29 (255 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140416.2)
SourcePackage: update-notifier
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.