The Open Source Hype

Two thirds of the world's Web sites run on open source software, which has been touted as a more economic and secure alternative to proprietary software systems like Microsoft Windows. But in a new exclusive on ForeignPolicy.com, Caroline Benner says that governments should think carefully before embracing open source. It may not be as secure as some hope. ...

Two thirds of the world's Web sites run on open source software, which has been touted as a more economic and secure alternative to proprietary software systems like Microsoft Windows. But in a new exclusive on ForeignPolicy.com, Caroline Benner says that governments should think carefully before embracing open source. It may not be as secure as some hope.

Two thirds of the world's Web sites run on open source software, which has been touted as a more economic and secure alternative to proprietary software systems like Microsoft Windows. But in a new exclusive on ForeignPolicy.com, Caroline Benner says that governments should think carefully before embracing open source. It may not be as secure as some hope.

Software, with its millions of lines of code, is so complicated that experts don’t know for sure that open source has fewer bugs, nor can they say with certainty that having fewer bugs makes open source more secure. …

[I]t is [also] misleading to say that open source empowers people in ways proprietary software does not. Both open source and proprietary software allow you to change the behavior of a software program in significant ways without touching the program’s source code. The truth is that software authors, whether they work for a large software firm or no one at all, want users to adapt their product to specific locations and needs.

Carolyn O'Hara is a senior editor at Foreign Policy.

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