by The 's' stands for set uid. When the program is executed the individuals
user id is changed to the user id of the person who owns the file. It is
especially useful when you need to give regular users root access to do
things like change their password. The change password program runs as
root. When the user runs that program, they momentarily become the root
user for one purpose. Their regular uid comes back immedietly after that
purpose has been fulfilled. This is only a security risk when they can
shell out of the suid program. This was so ingenious during its time, AT&T
got a patent on the idea...
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|Reporter: They say they're gonna repeal prohibition. What will you do then?|
|Elliot Ness: I think i'll have a drink. |
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| http://www.wsu.edu:8080/~poke |
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Quad Erate Demonstratum