Open Source Security - Myths and Truths

Open Source Security or Open Source Software Security is the measure of assurance or the guarantee from absolute danger and inherent risks to a person or organization to an open source software system. Open source has risen to popularity amongst large industrial ventures, and even individuals for that matter, to obtain technology. This is because of the simplicity and accessible nature of the acquisition of software. One simply needs to find the open source that fits their requirements , download it and install it. This medium is used by established companies and enterprises to enhance their technical and application portfolios. It also enables them to make minimal investments in developer resources as well as have access to a community base to help troubleshoot problems and get its solutions. VLC Media Player, Linux, GIMP and LibreOffice are all examples of popular open source projects.

Due to the open nature of the softwares in this medium, many questions have been raised by various authorities and users regarding its security and liability. Hence, in this article, we will debunk some popular myths and discuss the truths about Open Source Security.

Open Source programs are less secure than proprietary software.

The fact that open source software is available and accessible to anyone, induces a thought that black hat hackers can find vulnerabilities in the software and hack it, putting an organizations private data and information in jeopardy.

In reality, the code on these softwares have been read by multiple users in depth to recognize and correct any flaws and weaknesses, to increase security.

2. The integrity of an Open Source’s code is questionable.

Since there are various developers that contribute on a regular basis to create open source projects as well as make existing projects better, it is very common of users to think that the code in the software becomes confusing, disorderly and as a result low in terms of quality. Hence, it is perceived that eventually, further changes to this source will become even more difficult and time consuming.

The usual case is the total opposite. With many developers and users constantly reviewing and giving feedback on open source projects , the improvements made on the project is continuous. Therefore, more than making the projects’ code difficult to understand, the latter improves the structure of the code as well as its performance.

3. Open source is a temporary trend that will die soon.

In the early stages of the inception of open source software, it was thought that this medium won’t be popular and counted on by companies and also accept the security risks that may come with it by using it in their products. Nonetheless, the current scenario is completely different.

The growth of open source libraries in expansive and huge, with millions of projects and users entering the field on a day to day basis. Various studies and surveys have shown that many organizations have adopted the use of open source software and many are considering making a switch to it as well. In fact, to tackle problems and issues regarding open source software, many companies have entered the market primarily focussing on the latter and providing apt solutions.

4. Open Source has less help and support.

When one is in the process of selecting an open source for whatever reason, an important consideration made is that of the help and support available to the consumer. This is required for if when changes to flaws and vulnerabilities are made, the result may make the open source to go under temporary failure or downtime.

To be honest, open source projects don’t have “support” in particular, it's just active developers and the users form the community that help troubleshoot and solve problems as mentioned earlier. However, companies have not started to commercialize this by offering paid support plans, to enable users and companies to get specific and quick support when required.

5. A software with an externally developed code is riskier.

Many potential users think that without any direct inputs from the companies using the code, the quality of an open source is unknown, with a potential for errors, inefficiencies, and security gaps, a common trend that you’ll notice throughout this article.

However, The transparency offered by an open source allows user to make an in depth assessment of the code for quality checks and possible vulnerabilities. Like it has been mentioned before, there are various developers and users, who assess these software codes with regard to proper coding methods and practices and even logic problems for that matter. So even if a code is written by a beginner or an amateur, code reviews will reveal parts of the code that are not appropriate or acceptable for a company. This adds an extra step in the selection of an open source and its application by companies and users, but it is still beneficial to both parties involved.

The myths and truths discussed above, are some of the most popular ones, that have stopped companies and consumers to rely on open source projects. Many even feel that such a source is not worthy of being used by large organizations. You’ll be surprised to know that the U.S Department of Defense, Amazon, Google, NASA and many more renowned companies utilize open source projects. One must also keep in mind, that not all open source projects are free and not all free software projects are open source. But all this is just scratching the surface. Also, because these myths have been debunked, doesn’t mean that everything in this medium is perfect and straightforward. Whenever you are planning to use an open source, make sure to examine and asses it either with the help of developers or agencies that help you to choose the most suitable open source software for your requirements and make informed choices. The field of Open Source is undergoing a continuous evolution and is a fantastic resource to watch out for.

So get started today!