[deleted]

Myth is the wrong word. Open Source exists, there are benefits and drawbacks like anything else.

Nobody is expecting FOSS project code to be read by everyone who uses it. It is about community. Knowing that there are at least some people looking at code, is a huge benefit to everyone else.

Trust is never absolute. You don't have to trust a specific code auditor, because there are many. If someone tries to put in a backdoor in an open source project with decent popularity, it will likely be found sooner than later.

The more popular a project gets, the more independent people will look at the code. Whether for contributions, or finding vulnerabilities, it is a tangible benefit that closed source lacks. With closed source, you must trust a single entity. For Google, we all agree their quality is top notch. Privacy and data sharing however, is another matter.

Even with Google, although mostly proprietary and closed, they do have AOSP. The clue is in the name. This "Open Source Project" is what allows developers to make the modifications they need to bring us GrapheneOS.
If you didn't care about Open Source and want to trust Google over open source devs, then you would not be running GrapheneOS.

    • [deleted]

    Graphite

    I'm not saying that open source doesn't exist, I'm saying that its relevance as an argument of authority is invalid.
    Likewise, as some GOS developers have already demonstrated, proprietary applications aren't black holes that cannot be audited.
    I appreciate the transparency of open source, and that some community projects work very well, but that's mostly down to the developers, not the users.

      • [deleted]

      wuseman Thanks for the question. My apologies, I was wrong. Thought I'd read recently that WhatsApp had server side keys. Feel free to flag my original post for removal as inaccurate (can't delete it myself).

      [deleted]
      I don't see anyone making an argument of authority.
      Like I said, open source has benefits and drawbacks.
      Just because there's nuance and the benefits vary, doesn't make them irrelevant.

      Also, security and privacy are different things. I have great trust that Google's security is well audited. But for privacy issues, it's often said, "it's a Feature, not a Bug".
      That's why Users can also be important, not just devs.

        • [deleted]

        • Edited

        Graphite Like I said, open source has benefits and drawbacks.

        I would like to hear what drawbacks open-source software has.

          Since we are talking pros and cons of open source and proprietary software, may I open another front with discussing the interest of selfhosting vs being hosted by a third party ? I personally use Matrix (Element, Synapse) as a messenger app, and I host it.

            • [deleted]

            Graphite

            This argument of authority is present absolutely everywhere. On almost any forum where privacy and security are discussed, you'll be told very, very, very often that the application is secure because anyone can read the code. Reddit is a very good example.
            This may be less the case here, but it's a general reality.

            I agree with the rest. I'm not disputing the pros and cons. But privacy necessarily implies security.
            My point is simple: the question of open source (reading the code) is irrelevant for most people, that's all.
            I support open source in principle. But in practice, as a ordinary user, it makes no difference to me.

              • [deleted]

              Eirikr70

              Personally, I find it interesting if you really know your stuff (or have a particular interest in needing to self-host).

              Self-hosting, especially a critical service with personal data, I find can quickly become dangerous and the interest is limited.
              You need to have the time and knowledge to properly secure your network, server, maintain it and the apps running on it. Official documentation doesn't do all the work.
              It's interesting, but I don't particularly recommend it.

                • [deleted]

                [deleted] I personally don't read code. But when you look at some of the submitted issues, pull requests and other comments, you can see that some people do and just having that possibility in itself is very reassuring. Meanwhile you could be looking at a pretty proprietary box and if you had an opportunity to crack it open, many things you may find that are not to your liking.

                  • [deleted]

                  [deleted]

                  Absolutely, and it's great that there are external contributions.
                  I repeat, I'm just saying that it doesn't concern the majority of users, and that the answer "it's open source" can't be the only argument (an argument that, I'm sorry to say, I see very often).

                    • [deleted]

                    csis01

                    Within 30 seconds, you'll find posts on reddit from GrapheneOS developers that literally say the exact opposite of what you're talking about.
                    Surprising as it may seem, I'm pretty confident in their analysis.

                      [deleted] I would like to hear what drawbacks open-source software has.

                      For starters, it takes much, much longer for new features to get done usually. It's very common for resources to be constrained for years. And projects get abandoned as quick as they begin.

                      [deleted] that the answer "it's open source" can't be the only argument

                      It sounds like your problem is about getting short, generalized answers that don't include context or nuance.
                      I suggest you don't get your answers from Reddit.

                      [deleted] I'm pretty confident in their analysis.

                      It's very common for non-technical people to want to put their trust in experts. In your case, you trust graphene developers.
                      But that is the benefit of open source projects. That you can trust the community at large.

                      [deleted] My point is simple: the question of open source (reading the code) is irrelevant for most people, that's all.

                      You use words like myth and irrelevant. The reason why those words invite argument is because they are incorrectly used.

                      Open source is not a myth. We've established that it exists.
                      It's not irrelevant either.
                      It may not be top of mind or something an ordinary user can understand fully. It is a relevant but nebulous concept. I agree that most users simply don't care about open source or closed source. But that's nature of software, it runs in the background and people don't have to think about it.

                      A good analogy would be when an ordinary user is looking for investment opportunities.
                      They don't have the financial knowledge to know the differences. So they consult with experts about it.
                      Open source, in this analogy, is like mutual funds. There's great benefit in investing in a diverse fund rather than a single company stock. They may not fully understand how it works, or even care. I'm sure some people are tired of getting that answer, but it's the correct one.

                        • [deleted]

                        Graphite

                        It sounds like your problem is about getting short, generalized answers that don't include context or nuance.
                        I suggest you don't get your answers from Reddit.

                        That's not my problem, neither a problem specific to reddit. I'm not looking for any more recommendations on this subject, personally.
                        I hear this answer everywhere and it bothers me that it's propagated everywhere as a general truth that people repeat.

                        It's very common for non-technical people to want to put their trust in experts. In your case, you trust graphene developers.
                        But that is the benefit of open source projects. That you can trust the community at large.

                        I'm opposed here.
                        I'm not saying that an "expert" is necessarily always right, or that the community is always wrong.
                        But when it comes to security, I think very few communities have the right practices.
                        Example: browsers extensions. You'll find extension recommendations almost everywhere, especially ublock origin. I'll never understand this recommendation again, when we know how dangerous extensions are, because they require absolutely enormous privileges on the browser, privileges that those who recommend them generally denounce when it's anything other than an extension.

                        You use words like myth and irrelevant. The reason why those words invite argument is because they are incorrectly used.

                        I said it was a kind of myth, not that open source is myth and doesn't exist, maybe it was badly expressed, but I'm clarifying and qualifying what I wrote. And I stand by my statement.

                        • [deleted]

                        • Edited

                        Graphite For starters, it takes much, much longer for new features to get done usually. It's very common for resources to be constrained for years. And projects get abandoned as quick as they begin.

                        This applies to all the projects that don't have any monetization model.

                        It doesn't matter if I make my project proprietary or open source if I have no way to monetize it and abandon it because of it.

                        • [deleted]

                        • Edited

                        [deleted] My phone is anonymous, or, in the worst-case scenario, pseudonymous. So I don't really care if they collect data that can't be tied to my real identity.

                          • [deleted]

                          [deleted] Well, I am hoping that you are right on the anonymity/pseudonymity but as with everything (proprietary) that you don't get to see or can not predict, you can hope for the best but expect the worst (that is the best approach when it comes to trust). Sorry again, I think we are a bit off topic here.

                          [deleted] I mostly agree with you. The time I dedicate to this hobby is out of the proportion of what it brings me. But I like it and I avoid some third parties.
                          I just opened that new front about self hosting on this thread for the fun of the discussion.

                            [deleted] I'm not disputing the pros and cons.

                            From reading your other comments, I think you do dispute the pros. And you are annoyed and resentful that you keep getting the same advice because you disagree.

                            But that's okay. Security and privacy is a diverse field with many differing opinions and different philosophies on how to implement good security or privacy.
                            Your browser extension example is probably one in which our philosophies agree. But on open source, apparently we don't.

                            I think where I've misunderstood you is thinking that you agree with the pros, but are getting advice that doesn't explain it well.
                            But now I think you don't actually believe in the benefits of open source. And then responding with that assumption that it's bad advice.
                            For that, we disagree.

                            I think it's important to respect opinions and most important to realize that opinions can differ greatly while still being valid.
                            Your opinion on open source is valid. But please do not discount the very valid opposing opinions on open source, by calling them myths or irrelevant.