I did not like how this article was taking shape so I’m starting over. I have a very serious two-part question for everyone.

(Q) Do you install adhoc(non commercial) binary files on your computer?
(Q) Do you install adhoc(non commercial) binary files on your computer with administrator privileges?

In the OpenSource world (no the world that Richard Stallman visits) not all source code is treated the same. For example there are some projects that are source code only (no make files), there are others with source and make files but no docs, and there are others that are so complicated or big to install that you have to install the binary (X11 is a great example); and others still have DEEP dependencies that are not automated.

It’s also important to note that not all operating systems are treated the same. OSX provides Xcode virtually free of charge. The *nix systems have free and commercial toolsets. Visual Studio for Windows, on the other hand, is not free (there is an express version that might be free)

It is probably fair to say that Microsoft’s sandbox is more of a petri dish for binary only malware. However, it is the users responsibility to steer clear. It’s also on the tool vendors to make sure that tools are installed in userspace alone. Using duplicates or diskspace as a reason for installing as admin or root no longer exists.

As the saying goes… “Fortune Cookie: Man who put gum in jockstrap wake up with sticky dicky”.