What is the safest way to run an executable on Linux?

Question

I am trying to run a program compiled from C code from an unknown source. I want to make sure that the program does not harm my system in anyway. Like for instance, the pro

Answer 1

You can use something like schroot and chroot the program, but anything of sufficient nastiness will bust out of that.

You best bet is probably a virtual machine (vmware or virtualbox) and taking a snapshot before compiling and running the program. That way you can roll back if something goes horribly wrong.