Government officials and private sector executives from around the world are gathering in Washington this week to discuss ways to improve the security of open source software.
Open-source software is used in a wide variety of applications, from operating systems to web browsers to mobile apps. However, it can be difficult to secure open source software, as it is often developed by volunteers and may not be subject to the same level of scrutiny as proprietary software.
The summit’s agenda includes discussions on the current state of open-source security and updates on last year’s projects. It will also establish task forces dedicated to specific open-source security topics, with regular updates for the White House. Another summit is anticipated next fall.
The two-day summit, which is being hosted by the Open Source Security Foundation (OpenSSF), will focus on issues like how to improve the security of open-source code, how to better track the use of open-source software in commercial products, and how to educate developers about open-source security
“This summit is an important step in our ongoing efforts to secure open source software,” said Anne Neuberger, deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies. “We need to work together to address the systemic challenges that make open-source software vulnerable to attack.”
The sources for this piece include an article in Axios.