.NET Framework Security

Problems with Securing Mobile Code

There are numerous well-supported forms of mobile code applications or components, each with its own benefits and drawbacks:

• Downloaded executables

• Source code

• Scripts

• Java applets

• ActiveX controls

Downloaded Executables

By downloaded executables, I mean files compiled to target specific architectures and operating systems. For example, notepad.exe is a commonly used executable file found in Windows. Downloaded executables are found all over the Internet. There are whole Web catalogs of programs for Windows, Macintosh, Linux, and other platforms. In addition, e-mail and peer-to-peer sharing mechanisms, such as Napster, have made it easy for users to share executables with each other.

Downloaded executables are good ...