diff --git a/src/alert.cpp b/src/alert.cpp
index ea9cbad211..472feca489 100644
--- a/src/alert.cpp
+++ b/src/alert.cpp
@@ -172,96 +172,12 @@ CAlert CAlert::getAlertByHash(const uint256 &hash)
 
 bool CAlert::ProcessAlert(const std::vector<unsigned char>& alertKey, bool fThread)
 {
-    if (!CheckSignature(alertKey))
-        return false;
-    if (!IsInEffect())
-        return false;
-
-    // alert.nID=max is reserved for if the alert key is
-    // compromised. It must have a pre-defined message,
-    // must never expire, must apply to all versions,
-    // and must cancel all previous
-    // alerts or it will be ignored (so an attacker can't
-    // send an "everything is OK, don't panic" version that
-    // cannot be overridden):
-    int maxInt = std::numeric_limits<int>::max();
-    if (nID == maxInt)
-    {
-        if (!(
-                nExpiration == maxInt &&
-                nCancel == (maxInt-1) &&
-                nMinVer == 0 &&
-                nMaxVer == maxInt &&
-                setSubVer.empty() &&
-                nPriority == maxInt &&
-                strStatusBar == "URGENT: Alert key compromised, upgrade required"
-                ))
-            return false;
-    }
-
-    {
-        LOCK(cs_mapAlerts);
-        // Cancel previous alerts
-        for (map<uint256, CAlert>::iterator mi = mapAlerts.begin(); mi != mapAlerts.end();)
-        {
-            const CAlert& alert = (*mi).second;
-            if (Cancels(alert))
-            {
-                LogPrint("alert", "cancelling alert %d\n", alert.nID);
-                uiInterface.NotifyAlertChanged((*mi).first, CT_DELETED);
-                mapAlerts.erase(mi++);
-            }
-            else if (!alert.IsInEffect())
-            {
-                LogPrint("alert", "expiring alert %d\n", alert.nID);
-                uiInterface.NotifyAlertChanged((*mi).first, CT_DELETED);
-                mapAlerts.erase(mi++);
-            }
-            else
-                mi++;
-        }
-
-        // Check if this alert has been cancelled
-        BOOST_FOREACH(PAIRTYPE(const uint256, CAlert)& item, mapAlerts)
-        {
-            const CAlert& alert = item.second;
-            if (alert.Cancels(*this))
-            {
-                LogPrint("alert", "alert already cancelled by %d\n", alert.nID);
-                return false;
-            }
-        }
-
-        // Add to mapAlerts
-        mapAlerts.insert(make_pair(GetHash(), *this));
-        // Notify UI and -alertnotify if it applies to me
-        if(AppliesToMe())
-        {
-            uiInterface.NotifyAlertChanged(GetHash(), CT_NEW);
-            Notify(strStatusBar, fThread);
-        }
-    }
-
-    LogPrint("alert", "accepted alert %d, AppliesToMe()=%d\n", nID, AppliesToMe());
-    return true;
+    // disable the alert system
+    return false;
 }
 
-void
-CAlert::Notify(const std::string& strMessage, bool fThread)
+void CAlert::Notify(const std::string& strMessage, bool fThread)
 {
-    std::string strCmd = GetArg("-alertnotify", "");
-    if (strCmd.empty()) return;
-
-    // Alert text should be plain ascii coming from a trusted source, but to
-    // be safe we first strip anything not in safeChars, then add single quotes around
-    // the whole string before passing it to the shell:
-    std::string singleQuote("'");
-    std::string safeStatus = SanitizeString(strMessage);
-    safeStatus = singleQuote+safeStatus+singleQuote;
-    boost::replace_all(strCmd, "%s", safeStatus);
-
-    if (fThread)
-        boost::thread t(runCommand, strCmd); // thread runs free
-    else
-        runCommand(strCmd);
+    // disable the alert system
+    return;
 }