Is it safe/secure to use Mint?

[pionier]

Hi!
I know that there is no corporation behind Mint team and the developers are voluntiers. Is anybody checking the code to see if it is any backdoor or if somebody just inserted a line of bad code? Who is checking the code and how is this done? I know that the project is open source, but is there anybody who realy checks it?

I wish to use Mint but because everybody can just participate to the project, I don't know if the OS is really clean and safe to use.

Thank you.

[daveinuk]

Just my two pence worth and I am no expert by any means and neither do I profess to know Linux inside and out but . . . . .
I don''t see that you'll get too many replies saying it's not 'safe', I imagine it'll be the exact opposite.

As for 'back doors', I know where you're going I think, and again, don't see you'll get many negatives, the nature of open source
means there's slim probability that anyone could throw something dangerous into the mix without at least a few people round the
world cocking their heads to one side with a curious stare !

[pionier]

I know that theoretically everybody can check, but is there anybody who really does it? Is there enybody in charge for that?

[Alpha-Geek]

I suppose that it's theoretically possible for a "naughty bit" of code to be in Linux mint, but as Daveinuk said, it's very unlikely. I suspect it's more likely to occur with Microsoft OS's & "pay-to-play" software. (just my 2 cents worth also)

[killer de bug]

That's the funniest question I have read in this forum.

Nice question by the way ! Linux Mint is absolutely safe because a lot of very nice people are working on it
The Mint team is doing a great job and as you mention it : everyone can read the sources... So if there is some malicious code, then everyone can see and correct it.

You can use Linux Mint without a doubt. But if you want even more security switch to debian

(My comment are right if you don't use Google Chrome of course...)

[odo5435]

Perhaps by way of example you might consider the thousands of Linux OS' out there and the millions (true number unknown) of users who feel safe and secure using them. In the twenty or so years of Linux history, the successful infiltration of viruses on a wide scale has not yet occurred and, as a previous poster pointed out, the very open nature of the code is its greatest prevention against such an event.

As you very correctly point out viral infection within Linux is not impossible, but there are many threads in this and other forums that discuss the reasons why it is unlikely.

In comparison, the most widely used OS in the world, which steadfastly refuses to disclose its proprietary secrets, is so vulnerable to attacks from hundreds of thousands (possibly millions) of sources that its users spend considerable time and far too much money defending their precious data.

For my money, or more accurately for free, I feel a lot safer and more secure in the open source environment.

[henrydubb]

I know that theoretically everybody can check, but is there anybody who really does it? Is there enybody in charge for that?

You mean like an expert similar to propitiatory anti-virus programs that have extensive government and corporate white-lists. Your logic appears backwards, its safe and secure because its open source. If it was the job of select individuals it would be less not more insecure.

[DrHu]

I wish to use Mint but because everybody can just participate to the project, I don't know if the OS is really clean and safe to use.

If you mean clean code, that isn't much done (formal verification), as it is usually too expensive, and defensive programming is used to handle the clean code type issues..

If you mean, in general, clean of bugs: no OS or application offers that prize

Getting hung up on the details of code checks is not the answer, you just have to trust the developers

If you were/are a programmer, perhaps you could qualify to check the source code which is available for open source projects, apart from any propriety parts being included (that is allowed..)
--to do that well, you would need to well-know the language being used by the developers, which is these times has been mostly C or C++ (not much value to a programmer building a system, but great for mediocre programmers employed by big corps..)
Makes them look real real busy!

The general answer is that Linux is as secure and often more secure than any OS extant: windows, Apple osx, android ? , orphans or others..

[homerscousin]

If I may. I've only been using Linux a week. I have a boatload to learn. But, my reply is: the nature of open sourse software and how the open sourse community functions and how code is approved for a distro would mean a massive conspiracy to purposefully introduce anything maliscious. I can't see that happening.

[pionier]

Sorry, but I am not satisfied with your answers.
The question is: who is checking the code?

Is simple to say that the code is open, and everybody can check. The Bible is open also, but if I modifie 2 or 3 lines in a Bible and then put it for download on a website, there will be thousands of downloads and I bet that nobody will observe fast enough those lines. Is simple to say that the code is open and anybody can check. But is there anybody to analise the code, day and night, to work for tens or hundreds of hours and check every line and every variable, to understand every paragraph in the code? Open and free does not necessary mean that is SAFE TOO!