Binary blob: Difference between revisions

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The OpenBSD project has a notable policy of not accepting binary blobs into its source tree, citing not only the potential for undetectable or irreparable security flaws but also its encroachment onto the openness and freedom of their software.<ref>{{cite web|last = Music composed by Ty Semaka and Jonathan Lewis. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Jonathan Lewis of Moxam Studios (1-403-233-0350). Vocals and Lyrics by Ty Semaka & Theo de Raadt. Bass guitar, organ and bubbles by Jonathan Lewis. Guitar by Tom Bagley. Drums by Jim Buick|url = http://www.openbsd.org/lyrics.html#39|title = 3.9: "Blob!"|publisher = OpenBSD|accessdate = 2006-06-22}}</ref> This stance has been somewhat validated by information released during the [[August 2]], [[2006]] [[Black Hat Briefings|Black Hat USA]] convention where an exploit within the binary driver for the [[Atheros]] [[wireless network card]]s used in [[MacBook Pro]]s and elsewhere was revealed.<ref>{{cite web|last = An article by Kelly Martin of SecurityFocus regarding the hacking of a Wi-Fi binary blob driver - August 3, 2006|url = http://www.securityfocus.com/brief/271|title = WiFi makes waves at Blackhat|accessdate = 2006-08-25}}</ref>

Other operating system projects, including [[NetBSD]], [[FreeBSD]], [[DragonFly BSD]], and the Ubuntu and [[Fedora Core|Fedora]] [[Linux distributions]], take a pragmatic view and accept binary blobs as a fast route to the missing or enhanced functionality they provide.<ref name="bsdinterview">{{cite web | url = http://os.newsforge.com/os/05/06/09/2132233.shtml?tid=8&tid=2 | title = BSD cognoscenti on Linux | accessdate = 2006-07-07 | last = Matzan | first = Jem | date = [[2005-06-15]] | publisher = NewsForge }} See Christos Zoulas's response to "Is sharing between Free/Open/NetBSD and the Linux kernel a common occurrence? And if so, does it go both ways?"</ref> They include binary blobs for purposes ranging from [[Redundant Array of Inexpensive Disks|RAID]] to networking and accelerated graphics drivers. The [[Free Software Foundation]] (FSF) is actively campaigning against binary blobs, even though some [[Linux distributions]] do include them.{{fact}} In order to make use of opaque binary blob drivers available for other operating systems, some projects include software [[wrapper]]s: examples include [[NdisWrapper]] for [[Linux]] and Project Evil for [[FreeBSD]] and [[NetBSD]], both of which implement [[Microsoft]]'s [[NDIS]] [[Application programming interface|API]] to allow [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]] drivers to be used.

[[Firmware]], the operating software required by a device's onboard [[microcontroller]] that accompanies some hardware, is generally not considered to be a binary blob. Often it is stored in onboard [[flash memory]] but to decrease costs and ease upgrading some manufacturers now use external firmware uploaded by the operating system. Although the firmware is present in the operating system, it is merely copied to the device and not executed, lessening concerns about hidden security flaws. The OpenBSD project accepts binary firmware images and will redistribute the images if the license permits.<ref>{{cite web | title = OpenBSD Works To Open Wireless Chipsets - November 2, 2004 |url = http://kerneltrap.org/node/4118 | accessdate = 2006-06-23}}</ref>