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On a large multi user system there’s a big difference between “your stuff” and “everyone’s stuff” on a single user system like a phone - not so much.
by mikeryan 9y ago
On a large multi user system there’s a big difference between “your stuff” and “everyone’s stuff” on a single user system like a phone - not so much.
- c22 9y agoAlthough you can leverage multiuser capable systems for more security by, say, using different user accounts for playing games and banking, or whatever.
- dredmorbius 9y agoThe point is that your trust envelope extends to the authors of software, which are frequently not acting in the best interests of the user, and have their own goals and incentives (including competing goals with other software authors). On my Linux systems, particularly under Debian, there's some assurance provided through the Debian Project, its guiding documents (social contract, constitution, policy), and debian developers. The project explicitly serves the users. This doesn't prevent bugs and occasional malice, but tends to tremendously reduce incentives for it. Smartphones ... are a mess, and Android rather particularly so. I've suggested entirely rethinking how app development is performed, particularly for basic utilities, closer to the Debian model. I have little hope of this occurring.