How safe is open source software? What are the general benefits?

No Stupid Questions@lemmy.world – 121 points – 1 years ago

So with open source software more on my mind lately I was wondering - while I get the benefits of transparency and such, how safe is it? If the source code is available to all, isn't it easier to breach for people (like the recent cookies hack)? If I'd have an open source password manager, would it be easier for people to get my passwords somehow than if I use something not open source? Do I just not understand how software works in general?

And what are other benefits that may be not so obvious to someone not so knowledgable about this?

Edit: thank you all for really insightful answers! Among other things I also learned just how much I don't know :)

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What kind of safety reasons rule out OSS for you?

I think they mean any safety advantages on their own aren't enough to warrant a switch.

Aha. Understood. Thank you for the clarification

I interpreted it the same way devexxis did, but on rereading, I think you're right.