42Received 18.06.2025. Revised 30.06.2025. Accepted 17.09.2025.
Abstract. The problem of the comprehensive use of open-source programs is studied as a unique international process covering most countries of the world. The object of the study is open-source software, the source code of which is freely distributed in various sources and can be used on the basis of the relevant rules (license). Some open-source software products are critical technological building blocks for widely used computer systems around the world. A huge number of companies, governments, and individuals use open-source software or its components. At this stage, it is not just an important part of the software industry, but one of the foundations of the modern global economy. The article analyzes the history of open-source software, its conceptual apparatus, development process and prospects. Analysis of the history of the idea and movement for open-source software showed that, at present, it is possible to state the absence of a strict division into closed and open segments. Almost all leading IT companies are increasingly using open-source software models in their activities, while simultaneously being their sponsors. The article substantiates its strategic importance in the spheres of economics and security. Thus, the author substantiates the conclusion that the accelerated spread of open-source software is already a unique international process that has a large-scale impact on the economy and security at the national and global levels. The risks and threats of malicious use and distribution of open-source software at the current stage are identified, including for the security of Russia. Governments of developed countries are more and more concerned about the consequences of using open-source software for cybersecurity and the risks of both accidental vulnerabilities and code manipulation by not only criminals, but also foreign state actors. Countries with the greatest capabilities in the information space are implementing open-source software, and moreover, developing methods for managing the so-called open-source ecosystem at the national and global level, increasingly politicizing these processes, and using them to influence other states. The article raises the problem of politicization of the development and distribution of open-source software, which contradicts the key principles of collaborative development and open access.
Keywords: software, open-source software, closed source software, open-source software, proprietary software, opensource software risks, international process, Russia’s security, digital space, IT industry
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