Memory protection with non-readable pages

A system for storing computer instructions, the system comprising:

• a memory;
• and
• a processor comprising at least one volatile register, the volatile register configured in hardware to protect its contents in response to events that indicate activity by malicious or invalid code, wherein
• the processor is configured to regulate access to portions of the memory,
• the processor is configured to execute a first set of instructions stored in a first portion of the memory,
• the first set of instructions is configured to cause the processor to load a secret value into the volatile register, and
• the processor is configured to lose, in response to an asynchronous event, information loaded in the volatile register.

At least one non-transitory, machine-accessible storage medium having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions are configured, when executed on a machine, to cause the machine to:

• regulate a memory region for execute-only access;
• store a set of instructions in the memory region;
• execute an early instruction among the set of instructions, wherein the early instruction is configured to cause the machine to load a secret value into a volatile register, the volatile register configured in hardware to protect its contents in response to events that indicate activity by malicious or invalid code;
• and
• execute a set of subsequent instructions among the set of instructions, wherein a correct execution of the subsequent instructions depends on the secret value being loaded into the volatile register.