How can I trust apps from openrepos? [answered]
Very simple question, how to trust apps from open repos and conclude that they aren't malware or spyware.
Very simple question, how to trust apps from open repos and conclude that they aren't malware or spyware.
Simple response, by looking at the source code, which is available for almost all openrepos published apps. Can you do the same with your Windoze OS ? Or you trust only closed source "NSA certified" apps ?
Openrepos is particularly bad for this though, anyone can sign-up and upload anything they like, they can create sockpuppet accounts to give it fake feedback and rating.
Looking at the source isnt really enough, compiling it yourself or at minimum taking a build off Mer OBS is the only way to really know that your binaries have been built from the given source.
r0kk3rz ( 2016-09-25 17:22:20 +0300 )editjolla rpm validator is available on github; it might be a start for a safety validation step.
Even tho I personally do not believe it's the only verification they perform in harbour. Perhaps Jolla could share more about the process, and it could be implemented to a certain extent in openrepos. But not my call :).
tortoisedoc ( 2016-09-26 09:37:43 +0300 )editcan i say...you can trust openrepos because we are at jolla and we almost know everyone each other?of course some patch can conflict with another and cause trouble but since an app is published by a sailfish devs there shouldnlt be any problem with it... :)
Unfortunately it does not work like that, You cannot trust me or anyone else if you really want to be sure.
Even as SFOS users and developers are a small community, still there has been kind of malevolent software even in the official Jolla Harbour, think about that for a while...
juiceme ( 2016-09-25 22:39:11 +0300 )editAsked: 2016-09-25 09:02:16 +0300
Seen: 1,106 times
Last updated: Sep 26 '16
how do you trust apps downloaded from internet? by users feedback/rating and app source code.
coderus ( 2016-09-25 09:29:23 +0300 )editIs the question bad enough to deserve a down-vote for some people? Come on... Be somewhat nicer, especially to newcomers. BTW, welcome @bhavasagar!
luen ( 2016-09-25 10:05:25 +0300 )editIts a fair question. Unfortunately, there is no simple reply. For paranoid - you cannot trust. Its easy to upload any rpm which would do whatever is specified there. Compared to other sources (Harbor), there are no checks that I know of. However, for paranoid, I don't think that the checks in Harbor and, as we have all heard in other OS stores, are 100% trustworthy either.
In sum, as @coderus stated, look for users feedback, check if its open-source. If it is open-source and you would like to at least have a source code for the version that you install, compile it yourself. This would allow you to check the source if something happens. Fortunately, so far, I haven't heard about any malware distributed via openrepos for SFOS, but maybe I just wasn't around long enough or didn't pay attention. [and welcome!]
rinigus ( 2016-09-25 10:55:01 +0300 )editNo way to trust, ever.
That is why for all patches I read the QML through, and all the binaries I compile myself.
here is no other way.
juiceme ( 2016-09-25 13:31:07 +0300 )editThanks @luen
bhavasagar ( 2016-09-26 09:38:05 +0300 )edit