>>>If the OS is hackable is anything on the computer safe. New MS newsgroups:
>>>microsoft.hipcrime
>>>microsoft.public.hipcrime
>>>Last time they tried to blame it on the DNS server, what will they pick now?
>>
>>
>>IMO, this is one of the big problems with Linux. If you have the source code, it should be easier to hack. Linux fans will say that there will also be more people out there to plug the holes, but your OS will be accessible until those holes are plugged.
>
>Don't confuse secrecy with security. Secrecy is a two edged sword - if the source is available, and open, it's easier to find - *and fix* - bugs, as well as exploit them.
>
>There's a reason that all serious crypto standards are open, as well.

Seems there are a few more edges to that secrecy sword:
1) when people know something is (wanted to be) secret, it entices them to find the secret(s);
2) when you believe that something (you have) is secret you may be more blind to finding (more)problems with it;
3) when people know you have something that you want to keep secret *and* you tell them that that secret stuff is the key to their (the peoples') security, they want proof that they are indeed secure.