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It is really a pity that FOSS is not yet a strict requirement for every security-relevant component. This is especially strange given that "Security by Obscurit
by vog 9y ago
It is really a pity that FOSS is not yet a strict requirement for every security-relevant component. This is especially strange given that "Security by Obscurity doesn't work" and "Nobody can analyze code which they can't easily build and modify" are well established concepts by now.
- dsacco 9y ago> Security by Obscurity doesn't work. Yes it does! This meme is both widespread and incorrect. Security by obscurity is a great layer for defense in depth. The only time it's not sane is when it's used as the only method. But that's also like saying whitelisted input or parameterized queries don't work - they don't work on their own, but all things being equal you can have very secure systems that function in an opaque way while still getting strong assurances through formal audits. > Nobody can analyze code they can't build and modify. Essentially no one analyzes open source code regardless, unless they have a financial incentive. Even if you are one of the vanishingly small number of people who inspect the code for every FOSS tool you use, you are, with probability approaching 1, incapable of identifying all potential backdoors or critical security failures. You need to balance the Platonic ideal of open software for audits with the fiscal reality that secure software is highly expensive and typically emerges as the product of well funded teams with significant expertise. This describes very few open source projects.