I’m note a programmer. I Don’t Understand Codes. How do I Know If An Open Source Application is not Stealing My Data Or Passwords? Google play store is scanning apps. It says it blocks spyware. Unfortunately, we know that it was not very successful. So, can we trust open source software? Can’t someone integrate their own virus just because the code is open?
It’s not an attempt at edginess, but the answer is that in the long run, IT NOTHING is safe. It might be now, it might be for some time, but theres no guarantee that even the most dependable piece of software will get some new update that will break some of its functionality, or the OS will interfere with it, thus breaking it.
FOSS? It’s safe as a principle. If anyone has the access to the code, then any suspicious inclusion to it will be spotted quickly and patched up.
…but the reality isn’t as straightforward.