How safe is open source software? What are the general benefits?
How safe is open source software? What are the general benefits?
So with open source software more on my mind lately I was wondering - while I get the benefits of transparency and such, how safe is it? If the source code is available to all, isn't it easier to breach for people (like the recent cookies hack)? If I'd have an open source password manager, would it be easier for people to get my passwords somehow than if I use something not open source? Do I just not understand how software works in general?
And what are other benefits that may be not so obvious to someone not so knowledgable about this?
Edit: thank you all for really insightful answers! Among other things I also learned just how much I don't know :)
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If you know how to code and you audit the code and compile it yourself from the source code ? Then it is 100% safe.
If the program is from a well regarded community and the source code is easily accessible to the public and it has been regularly reviewed by experts ? Then it is pretty safe.
If the program is from an unknown source and the source code is difficult to access by the public or it is obfuscated and no reviews are available? It is probably better to give it a miss and keep looking for a program that is more trustworthy which suits your needs.