Core Problem
Software users must trust vendors despite security risks, with limited practical ways to verify software integrity
and security.
Key Verification Methods
- Code signing & package verification
- App store distribution & controls
- Binary transparency systems
- Source code review & reproducible builds
Major Challenges
- Source review is impractical due to code volume and complexity
- Reproducible builds are technically difficult
- Supply chains involve multiple trust points
- Targeted attacks are hard to detect
- Verification tools themselves require trust
Current Reality
While some security measures exist (open source, reproducible builds, binary transparency), complete elimination of trust in software vendors remains impossible. Users must ultimately trust some combination of:
- Software vendors
- Operating system providers
- App store operators
- Package managers
- Hardware manufacturers