What do we mean by “ A directory cannot be written on by unprivileged programs” in UNIX?

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While Reading a Research paper- The UNIX Time- Sharing System by Dennis M. Ritchie and Ken Thompson, I stuck at a line which says that




"A directory behaves exactly like an ordinary file except that it
cannot be written on by unprivileged programs, so that the system
controls the contents of directories. However, anyone with appropriate
permission may read a directory just like any other file."




Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?










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    While Reading a Research paper- The UNIX Time- Sharing System by Dennis M. Ritchie and Ken Thompson, I stuck at a line which says that




    "A directory behaves exactly like an ordinary file except that it
    cannot be written on by unprivileged programs, so that the system
    controls the contents of directories. However, anyone with appropriate
    permission may read a directory just like any other file."




    Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?










    share|improve this question

























      0












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      While Reading a Research paper- The UNIX Time- Sharing System by Dennis M. Ritchie and Ken Thompson, I stuck at a line which says that




      "A directory behaves exactly like an ordinary file except that it
      cannot be written on by unprivileged programs, so that the system
      controls the contents of directories. However, anyone with appropriate
      permission may read a directory just like any other file."




      Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?










      share|improve this question














      While Reading a Research paper- The UNIX Time- Sharing System by Dennis M. Ritchie and Ken Thompson, I stuck at a line which says that




      "A directory behaves exactly like an ordinary file except that it
      cannot be written on by unprivileged programs, so that the system
      controls the contents of directories. However, anyone with appropriate
      permission may read a directory just like any other file."




      Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?







      unix operating-system






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      asked Jan 2 at 15:48









      Anup patelAnup patel

      34




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          Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?




          It means the CONTENTS of a directory file can only be modified through system services.






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            1 Answer
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            1 Answer
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            Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?




            It means the CONTENTS of a directory file can only be modified through system services.






            share|improve this answer




























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              Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?




              It means the CONTENTS of a directory file can only be modified through system services.






              share|improve this answer


























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                Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?




                It means the CONTENTS of a directory file can only be modified through system services.






                share|improve this answer














                Does it mean that, no files can be stored or can be renamed in directory by unprivileged programs?




                It means the CONTENTS of a directory file can only be modified through system services.







                share|improve this answer












                share|improve this answer



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                answered Jan 2 at 21:57









                user3344003user3344003

                14.8k31639




                14.8k31639
































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