Can We Really Trust Open Source Software That Isn’t Local?

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Asked By CuriousCoder99 On

I'm curious about the level of trust we can place in open source software, especially when it's not hosted locally. For instance, take Proton VPN as an example. It's open source, but how can we verify that Proton (the company) is actually using the same source code when we use their app? This situation makes me wonder about the trust level across different open source projects. How does it vary if we compile and run the software ourselves, use a pre-compiled version from an official site, or use a service that's entirely online?

4 Answers

Answered By BuildItYourself42 On

I would say yes, but with a caveat. It's essential to fork the software and keep a local copy of the version you're using. Plus, learning how to build it yourself can save you from relying on third parties who might 'accidentally' change things in the code. Alternatively, you can pay for secure build services if that's more your speed.

Answered By TechieGuru77 On

You've kind of answered your own question! At the end of the day, if you're using a service, you can't really know what code they're running, even if they claim it's open source. They could easily make modifications behind the scenes that you wouldn't be aware of.

Answered By InsiderInsight99 On

We really don't know for sure if Proton uses the same code. However, if you're a significant customer, like a large company, you might be able to request third-party audits as part of your contract. Big businesses often do this to ensure security.

CuriousCoder99 -

That's a good point! Having that third-party audit would definitely help ease some concerns.

Answered By SkepticalDev88 On

Honestly, I don't trust anything that handles plaintext data unless it's on my own hardware. You’re putting a lot of faith in the company to handle your data correctly and securely. The best way to ensure privacy is through end-to-end encryption between devices that you control.

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