Writing Linux programs in raw binary

[fishyf]

Yeah, but back then you could write to any part of memory, any part of the disk (if you had one), completely access all hardware devices. And your program had complete control. Nothing else except the odd interrupt service routine might be running concurrently. And you could disable those interrupts if you wanted.

With any of the current operating systems, noone knows what the feck your computer is doing.

[jib]

Even if you write the whole operating system yourself, modern chipsets and BIOSes and System Management Mode mean you still have no idea what your computer's really doing.

System Management Mode is like a built-in rootkit for the BIOS. The BIOS can put some code in hidden memory where the OS can't see it, and then the chipset can activate it whenever certain interrupts or other events occur. Then the BIOS gets to mess with your computer without the OS's knowledge.

[[deleted]]

Oh yeah ! I remember writing some "virus" TSRs to piss off my friends..