Yes. Open source software is safe to use and is the foundation of most of the technology the world relies on. Linux powers 96% of the world’s top web servers. Android, the most popular mobile operating system, is open source. The internet itself runs on open source protocols and software. Banks, hospitals, governments, and every major tech company depend on open source every day.

Why open source is more secure, not less

The common misconception is that making source code public makes it less secure. The opposite is true. When code is open, thousands of independent developers, security researchers, and organizations can review it. Vulnerabilities are found and fixed faster because more eyes are on the code.

Closed-source software relies on “security through obscurity,” the idea that hiding code prevents attackers from finding flaws. History has shown this does not work. Major breaches at closed-source companies happen regularly, and customers have no way to audit the software they depend on.

With open source, you can verify exactly what the software does. There are no hidden backdoors, no secret data collection, no undisclosed vulnerabilities.

The evidence

Research consistently supports the security of open source software:

  • Faster vulnerability response: Open source projects typically patch critical vulnerabilities faster than proprietary alternatives because the entire community can contribute fixes.
  • Independent auditing: Anyone can audit open source code. Security firms, governments, and independent researchers regularly review popular projects.
  • No vendor lock-in: If an open source project is abandoned or compromised, the community can fork it and continue development. With proprietary software, you have no recourse.
  • Compliance and transparency: Organizations in regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government) increasingly prefer open source because they can verify compliance requirements directly in the code.

When open source needs caution

Open source is not automatically safe simply because the code is public. Safety depends on the project’s community, maintenance, and how you use it:

  • Maintenance matters: Well-maintained projects with active communities and regular security releases are safe. Abandoned projects with no recent updates carry more risk.
  • Configuration matters: Even the most secure software can be dangerous if misconfigured. Default settings are not always production-ready.
  • Supply chain risks: Dependencies (libraries and packages that software relies on) can introduce vulnerabilities. Responsible projects audit their supply chains and pin dependency versions.
  • Skill and plugin ecosystems: Projects like OpenClaw that support community-contributed skills or plugins require vetting of third-party code.

How OpenClaw handles open source security

OpenClaw is a fully open source AI agent framework available on GitHub. The project benefits from all the advantages of open source: transparent code, community review, and independent security audits.

On OpenClaw.rocks, the managed hosting platform, additional security layers are applied on top of the open source foundation:

  • Automated updates ensure security patches are applied promptly
  • Proxy-level authentication prevents unauthorized access
  • Skill restrictions block known malicious code
  • Network isolation keeps each agent in its own environment

This combination of open source transparency and managed infrastructure security gives you the best of both worlds. You can inspect the code yourself while relying on hardened infrastructure to run it safely.

The bottom line

Open source software is not just safe, it is the industry standard for building secure, reliable systems. The question is not whether open source is safe, but whether a specific project is well-maintained and properly configured.

For OpenClaw specifically, read about its security measures or check out our managed hosting plans that handle the security configuration for you.

Browse more answers in our FAQ section.

For a deeper look at how open source is reshaping the AI landscape, read our blog post on why OpenClaw is the new Linux.