No, open source is not more vulnerable to viruses - if anything, its less so. Yes, you can view and modify a copy of the code. This can teach you how the code works, so if there are bugs, you might be able to exploit them. On the other hand, if there are bugs, users can report them more easily. Being able to modify a copy of the code does not mean you can get that modified code distributed - you only have a copy, not the official source. Certainly, I could write a piece of code and include it in a package and then give a virus to everybody I could convince to run my modified code, but that's about as far as it can go. A perfect example of open source software is - or was - the encryption software true crypt. This was used industry wide - corporations, governments and individuals all relied on it, for a really long period of time. True crypt was the gold standard - if you wanted high quality data security, you used it, and if you wanted the code, you could get it. In fact, part of the reason true crypt was as widely used as it was is that it was audited by independent security professionals, something which isn't possible without seeing the code. Basically what this all boils down to is that open source is just as secure as anything else - it all depends on the distribution mechanism used and, more importantly, how well the code's written.
-------------------------------------------------- From: "Charles Rivard" <wee1s...@fidnet.com> Sent: Friday, November 20, 2015 13:31 To: "Gamers Discussion list" <gamers@audyssey.org> Subject: Re: [Audyssey] blindfold airhockey is now out Aren't they more vulnerable to having a virus put into them? I know that the closed system of Apple is more secure in this way. --- Be positive! When it comes to being defeated, if you think you're finished, you! really! are! finished! --- Gamers mailing list __ Gamers@audyssey.org If you want to leave the list, send E-mail to gamers-unsubscr...@audyssey.org. You can make changes or update your subscription via the web, at http://audyssey.org/mailman/listinfo/gamers_audyssey.org. All messages are archived and can be searched and read at http://www.mail-archive.com/gamers@audyssey.org. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the management of the list, please send E-mail to gamers-ow...@audyssey.org.
