Open Source Software and Cybersecurity
Collection and analysis of Open Source alternatives for Cybersecurity
FOCAL POINT.
OPEN SOURCE APPROACH: FREEDOM IN SOFTWARE, OPPORTUNITIES FOR CUSTOMIZATION
The concept of “Open Source,” which can be literally translated into English as “open source,” refers to software in which rights holders allow the source code to be freely redistributed, making it accessible to the public.
Basically, anyone using this type of software has the ability to examine, analyze, and even modify the source code, adding or enhancing functionality as they wish. This can be done either through paid versions, referred to as “Enterprise,” or through free versions, known as “Community,” which may have some limited functionality compared to the paid versions.
FUTURE
A rapid rise
The high speed at which new versions of programs are released in the Open Source context is considerably faster than the slowness of traditional commercial software. This agility, however, has both advantages and disadvantages.
The distribution of Open Source code has been governed primarily by the General Public License (GPL) since the 1980s. This license enabled the development of the first complete and open Operating System, GNU (GNU’s not Unix), in contrast to the closed UNIX system.
This opened the door to a new Open Source paradigm. In 1991, Linus Torvalds introduced GNU Linux, the first complete monolithic kernel, which today is the most widely used operating system in the world.
The Open Source software market is growing rapidly, reaching a value of about $33 billion by the end of 2020.
NET POV
THE CYBERSECURITY OF OPEN SOURCE
A significant share of the software market is dominated by solutions related to Cybersecurity, an area of strong interest, especially among experts in the field who understand its complexity.
Open Source code provides the raw material to develop powerful tools used in the ongoing struggle between good and evil.
For example, the various Linux distributions have spawned fully Open Source platforms, preconfigured with hundreds of modules ranging from network scanning tools to virus and malware creation tools. These are the tools of the present and the future, which can be either defensive or offensive, depending on the skill of the user.
A striking example is Kali, a Debian kernel-based distribution that offers a wide range of computer security utilities, completely free of charge. It includes tools for Information Gathering, Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing and Forensic Analysis. NMAP, NIKTO and OPENVAS are just a few of the many tools available on Kali.
Turn to our specialists for advice
Team Humans for Cybersecurity
B.U. Cybersecurity
Netgroup S.p.A Italy
