Security and reliability Free software

although computer viruses affect microsoft windows, antivirus software such clamav (shown here) still provided linux , other unix-based systems, users can detect malware might infect windows hosts.

there debate on security of free software in comparison proprietary software, major issue being security through obscurity. popular quantitative test in computer security use relative counting of known unpatched security flaws. generally, users of method advise avoiding products lack fixes known security flaws, @ least until fix available.

free software advocates believe methodology biased counting more vulnerabilities free software, since source code accessible , community more forthcoming problems exist, (this called security through disclosure ) , proprietary software can have undisclosed societal drawbacks, such disenfranchising less fortunate would-be users of free programs. users can analyse , trace source code, many more people no commercial constraints can inspect code , find bugs , loopholes corporation find practicable. according richard stallman, user access source code makes deploying free software undesirable hidden spyware functionality far more difficult proprietary software.

some quantitative studies have been done on subject.

binary blobs , other proprietary software

in 2006, openbsd started first campaign against use of binary blobs in kernels. blobs freely distributable device drivers hardware vendors not reveal driver source code users or developers. restricts users freedom modify software , distribute modified versions. also, since blobs undocumented , may have bugs, pose security risk operating system kernel includes them. proclaimed aim of campaign against blobs collect hardware documentation allows developers write free software drivers hardware, enabling free operating systems become or remain blob-free.

the issue of binary blobs in linux kernel , other device drivers motivated developers in ireland launch gnewsense, linux based distribution binary blobs removed. project received support free software foundation , stimulated creation, headed free software foundation latin america, of linux-libre kernel. of october 2012, trisquel popular fsf endorsed linux distribution ranked distrowatch (over 12 months). while debian not endorsed fsf , not use linux-libre, popular distribution available without kernel blobs default since 2011.