The Smallest Threat to Open Source in 2009

Jan 07, 2009, 16:02 (4 Talkback[s])
(Other stories by Chad Perrin)

""The best protection against vulnerabilities is to keep software updated, but most open source lacks update services. That's one part of the Windows license that is worth paying for, and there does not seem to be an open source equivalent."

"As a long-time user of open source operating systems, previously favoring Debian GNU/Linux, and subsequently moving on to FreeBSD, I was stunned to see this in writing, published for all the world to see. Was he serious? Could he really believe that?

"One of the most visible wins for open source Unix-like OSes, once one has learned a fair bit about them, is the casual availability of superior software management systems. I've written a brief primer for effective use of APT for TechRepublic, Efficient software management with the Advanced Package Tool in Debian. I've also addressed the excellence of a security tool integrated with FreeBSD's ports system, How FreeBSD makes vulnerability auditing easy: portaudit. Both of these articles illustrate some of the significant benefits of better software management systems than offered by MS Windows."

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Related Stories:

• Keryx Tutorial: Bringing Updates Home(Jan 06, 2009)
• Understanding Canonical's New Linux Notification System(Dec 24, 2008)
• Windows Needs a Linux Package Manager(Dec 13, 2008)
• If Microsoft’s EULA Applied To Books(Dec 11, 2008)