A "Secure" OS made PRACTICAL
I can remember suggesting a theoretical Operating System that requires object code to be compiled in such a way that a decryption key is required for a program object to execute. The program object itself would execute unencrypted in RAM.
I cannot find the entry at the moment, but I have also suggested an OS that uses an RSA key for program installation.
Separately, I have contemplated a Linux user, organized such that the encrypted home folder appeared as an UNMOUNTED container over IP, while operating as a MOUNTED container locally, for the profile user. This would defeat some purposes of SSH, but would harden the installation against data theft over IP.
Now, with the development of an offline username/password for a program, I am asking myself if I cannot effectively suggest a practical (as opposed to theoretical) arrangement, whereby the program presents a credential (or two - username/password) to the OS, for permission to execute.
Clearly, multiple program objects with OpenDRM or Distributed DRM executing within the OS, would be independently secure, but this would NOT block a trojan worm from executing malicious code.
I do not want to forget T(erminate) S(tay) R(esident) trojans, but these would necessarily "die" at reboot.
Mostly, malicious code is only executable with stolen profile password or stolen (escalated) admin authority. If a Linux distro could be modified to require executables to present the profile password to execute, it would narrow the field for malware.
To this end, we can observe that Windows currently requires a y/n approval to install s/w. This passively challenges the code for admin privileges.
A y/n "nag" for PROFILE USER to authorize program objects to EXECUTE, might be unpopular with entry level users, but secure users might embrace it, when it could be shown that avoidance completely defeats unauthorized software.
This would be MOST evident at BOOTSTRAP, when the user would be required to knowledgeably authorize EVERY authorized process, so some education might be a prerequisite requirement.
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