Computing

Is free software more secure than proprietary software?

It is known to all that users of open source software, such as those who regularly work with computers controlled by Linux systems, generally take pride in the security that these programs offer over their own closed systems. say Microsoft Windows or Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), Mac .

However, this is an issue on which today's experts, after many years of discussions, still cannot agree. Is open source software more secure than closed programs , or vice versa? The truth is that, generally speaking, both sides have their reasons for making their case. Por un lado, los usuarios de las applications y sistemas de open source , defienden que, al estar el código fuente available at los ojos de todo el mundo, es mucho más fácil localizar posibles security holes y vulnerabilities that pongan en peligro los datos de users.

On the other hand, those who consider that closed systems are more secure in this sense, argue that since only the experts have access to the source code of their applications, it is more difficult than leaks or insertions of malware se produce in this type of systems. Keep in mind that, for example, Google rewards people who discover security flaws in its software Chrome , although he's not the only tech giant to use these tactics.

Safety is paramount in both cases

In fact, many companies spend millions to make their proposals as secure as possible, arguing that the security of their projects is one of their top priorities, all in an effort to prevent attackers from compromising their systems . On the other hand, others say that when the source code is public, more eyes are available to detect possible vulnerabilities or errors in said code, so it will always be faster and easier to put solutions in order to gain in security .

Be that as it may, in both cases, what has been more than demonstrated is that security is not guaranteed at any time, as we refer to or not to proposals open source . But it is also true that what is sought is that the risks of being attacked are reduced as much as possible. For example, linux systems have long been considered a secure operating system , in large part because of the benefits their design offers. Since its code is open, there are many people who incorporate improvements that other Linux users benefit from, contrary to the proposals for Windows ou MacOS, where these fixes are generally limited to those found by Microsoft and Apple.

Likewise, it must be taken into account that, while Windows dominates the desk , Linux is widely used in servers and other items of great importance where security is fundamental.

What do you think open source software is more secure than proprietary software?

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