Open_Source

[Chad Perrin]

On Wed, Jun 03, 2009 at 12:49:14AM +0100, Bruce Cran wrote:
> On Tue, 2 Jun 2009 17:59:51 +0200 (CEST)
> Wojciech Puchar <wojtek at wojtek.tensor.gdynia.pl> wrote:
> > 
> > I would add - with Open Source add it's far smaller (actually close
> > to zero) probability that it doesn't do anything except it's supposed
> > to do.
> > 
> > I mean things like sending private data to someone else, scanning for 
> > other programs i have on disk, my addressbook etc.
> 
> Given enough incentive, it unfortunately seems even open source
> developers will resort to sneaky tactics:
> http://arstechnica.com/open-source/news/2009/05/mozilla-ponders-policy-change-after-firefox-extension-battle.ars

It's worth noting that this was discovered relatively quickly and became
public knowledge.  If it was closed source software, there's basically
just be complaints about incompatibility and speculation without hard
evidence.

Yes, such perfidy *can* occur even in open source software, but it's
easier to discover and, I believe, less likely to occur because of that
ease of discovery.

-- 
Chad Perrin [ original content licensed OWL: http://owl.apotheon.org ]
Quoth Malaclypse the Younger: "'Tis an ill wind that blows no minds."
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