Before revision: It is assumed that any compiler that is used creates code that can be trusted, but it has been demonstrated by Ken Thompson that a compiler can be subverted using an eponymous Thompson hack to create faulty executables that are unwittingly produced by a well-intentioned developer.Witten, B., Landwehr, C., & Caloyannides, M. (2001, September/October).
After revision: It is assumed that any compiler that is used creates code that can be trusted, but it has been demonstrated by Ken Thompson that a compiler can be subverted using a compiler backdoor to create faulty executables that are unwittingly produced by a well-intentioned developer.Witten, B., Landwehr, C., & Caloyannides, M. (2001, September/October).