Perhaps I need a better understanding of what open source means, but how can a program that is openly publishing its code not be super vulnerable to cyber security threats. That’s like a bank publishing exactly how all it’s security works right? Obviously I’m missing something here, so ELI5!
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Open Source being saver than closed source comes down to the concept that security by obscurity is a bad practice. In other words security researchers believe that it is unsecure to rely on the fact that no one knows your code to make sure that it is save, because that would mean the second someone gets your code all defenses have been broken.
Open source is the “extreme” result of this thinking. By showing everyone your code, you have to make it so secure that even if everyone knows your code it is still secure. Basicly you cant slack off on security because it will be found out very fast. Another advantage of some Open Source Projects is that other people can contribute to the Project and thuse more people will find flaws in the code faster than if only the original developer it self would work on it.
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