On Mon, Feb 3, 2025 at 12:51 PM Donald Whittemore via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
If I don’t have the code expertise or compiling
capability how do I know
the executable is safe?
How do you know a closed-source executable is safe? Hackers have
installed vulnerabilities into closed source software.
As previously said, even if you have the code expertise and ability to
re-compile you're trusting your compiler.
You seem to be looking for a guarantee that doesn't exist.
Now whether 1,000,000 eye balls looking for bugs in open source code
results in a "safer" end product given that there are an arbitrary number
of bad actors who can also look for vulnerabilities is an issue of
legitimate debate. Of course many of these are already looking through
closed source binaries for vulnerabilities.