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Open source software is much more secure than commercial software. That’s why you should choose them.
Contents
Why is open source better ?
Because the source code is open, it is readily available for review. And this is very beneficial from a security standpoint:
- Everything is transparent: Every one, including security specialists, can study and scrutinise the code and identify any data leakage or backdoor that may be present in an app.
- Vulnerabilities are identified faster: Popular open source projects are less likely than commercial closed source software to include bugs and security vulnerabilities simply because many more eyes are looking to find and fix problems.
- Vulnerabilities are corrected earlier: Popular open software projects are likely to fix bugs and vulnerabilities and release the fixes faster than commercial software.
So when you have the possibility, always choose Open Source apps.
And also have in mind most of them are free, but not all of them (open source does not mean free).
Best open source Operating System
Linux
Linux is a family of open-source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991, by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution
Best open source apps
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free and open-source office productivity software suite, a project of The Document Foundation. It was forked in 2010 from OpenOffice.org, which was an open-sourced version of the earlier StarOffice.
Notepad++
Notepad++ is a text and source code editor for use with Microsoft Windows. It supports tabbed editing, which allows working with multiple open files in a single window. The project’s name comes from the C increment operator. Notepad++ is distributed as free software.
PDFCreator
PDFCreator is an application for converting documents into Portable Document Format format on Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Firefox
Firefox, is a free and open-source web browser developed by the Mozilla Foundation and its subsidiary, the Mozilla Corporation.
Thunderbird
Thunderbird is a webmail client, and open source project, which means anyone can contribute ideas, designs, code, and time helping fellow users.
Filezilla
FileZilla is a free and open-source, cross-platform FTP application, consisting of FileZilla Client and FileZilla Server.
7-zip
7-Zip is a free and open-source file archiver, a utility used to place groups of files within compressed containers known as “archives”.
Best open source to communicate
Signal
Signal is an independent nonprofit, free and open source messenger application, state-of-the-art end-to-end encryption (powered by the open source Signal Protocol) that keeps your conversations secure.
ProtonMail
ProtonMail is an end-to-end encrypted email service that uses client-side encryption to protect email content and user data before they are sent to ProtonMail servers.
CTemplar
CTemplar, open source source and zero data access is an anonymous and end-to-end encrypted email to anyone who needs their communications shielded from prying eyes.
Best open source security apps
Bitwarden
Bitwarden is a free and open-source password management service that stores sensitive information such as website credentials in an encrypted vault.
FreeOTP
FreeOTP adds a second layer of security for your online accounts. This works by generating one-time passwords on your mobile devices which can be used in conjunction with your normal password to make your login nearly impossible to hack.
Bitdefender
Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition is open source, blazing fast, free to use, and packs essential protection features every Windows computer needs.
Avast
Avast free is a free antivirus which beats paid products and has the same protection as the paid versions have…
OpenVPN
OpenVPN is an open source virtual private network system that implements techniques to create secure point-to-point or site-to-site connections in routed or bridged configurations and remote access facilities. It implements both client and server applications.
ProtonVPN
ProtonVPN is a virtual private network service provider operated by the Swiss company Proton Technologies AG.
Best open source on the Cloud
Dropbox
Dropbox is a secure cloud solutions and file hosting service that offers cloud storage, file synchronisation, personal cloud, and client software.
Nextcloud
Nextcloud is a suite of client-server software for creating and using file hosting services. It is free and open-source means that anyone is allowed to install and operate it on their own private server devices.
Cryptomator
Cryptomator is a free and open soure tool that encrypts your data in the cloud quickly and easily on all your devices.
Best open source video & pictures
Open Camera
Open Camera is a completely free and open source Camera app with many features.
GIMP
GIMP is a free and open-source raster graphics editor used for image manipulation and image editing, free-form drawing, transcoding between different image file formats, and more specialized tasks.
VLC
VLC is a free and open source cross-platform multimedia player and framework that plays most multimedia files as well as DVDs, Audio CDs, VCDs, and various streaming protocols.
Phonograph
Phonograph automatically downloads additional information about your artists such as their images or biographies.
OsmAnd
OsmAnd is a map and navigation app for Android and iOS. It uses the OpenStreetMap map database for its primary displays, but is an independent app not endorsed by the OpenStreetMap Foundation.
Other
Simple Mobile Tools
Simple Mobile Tools is a group of simple, open source Android apps without ads and unnecessary permissions, with customizable widgets.
Want to add some open source app to the list ?
Please, don’t hesitate to share the open source app you love in the comments.