OpenBSD

Extracted Attributes

• Founder

  Theo de Raadt

• License

  ISC license (permissive BSD-style)

• Default GUI

  FVWM on X11

• Headquarters

  Canada

• Default Shell

  ksh (Korn shell)

• Inception Date

  1995-10-18

• Current Release

  7.8 (released 2025-10-22)

• Supported Architectures

  x86-64, IA-32, ARM, PowerPC, 64-bit RISC-V

Timeline

• Theo de Raadt creates OpenBSD by forking NetBSD 1.0. (Source: Wikidata)

  1995-10-18

• OpenBSD 7.0 is released as the 51st release of the operating system. (Source: Liquid Web)

  2021-10-14

• OpenBSD 7.8 is released as the 59th release of the operating system. (Source: OpenBSD.org)

  2025-10-22

• Anthropic's Mythos AI model discovers critical, decades-old vulnerabilities in OpenBSD, leading to the formation of the Project Glass Wing coalition. (Source: fccfeb90-332d-499c-b8d7-0026207a2740)

  2025-10-22

OpenBSD

OpenBSD is a security-focused, free software, Unix-like operating system based on the Berkeley Software Distribution (BSD). Theo de Raadt created OpenBSD in 1995 by forking NetBSD 1.0. The OpenBSD project emphasizes portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security, and integrated cryptography. The OpenBSD project maintains portable versions of many subsystems as packages for other operating systems. Because of the project's preferred BSD license, which allows binary redistributions without the source code, many components are reused in proprietary and corporate-sponsored software projects. The firewall code in Apple's macOS is based on OpenBSD's PF firewall code, Android's Bionic C standard library is based on OpenBSD code, LLVM uses OpenBSD's regular expression library, and Windows 10 uses OpenSSH (OpenBSD Secure Shell) with LibreSSL. The word "open" in the name OpenBSD refers to the availability of the operating system source code on the Internet, although the word "open" in the name OpenSSH means "OpenBSD". It also refers to the wide range of hardware platforms the system supports. OpenBSD supports a variety of system architectures including x86-64, IA-32, ARM, PowerPC, and 64-bit RISC-V. Its default GUI is FVWM on X11.

Web Search Results

• OpenBSD FAQ: Introduction to OpenBSD

  OpenBSD is a BSD-style Unix, following the 4.4BSD design closely. Linux and Solaris are System V style systems. Some Unix-like operating systems mix System V and BSD characteristics. A common place where this causes confusion is the startup scripts. OpenBSD uses the rc(8) system. OpenBSD is a complete system, intended to be kept in sync. It is not a kernel plus utilities that can be upgraded separately from each other. OpenBSD maintains a ports tree to provide third party software. Pre-compiled packages are created and distributed by the OpenBSD ports team. OpenBSD uses CVS to keep track of source code changes. OpenBSD pioneered anonymous CVS, which allows anyone to extract the full source tree for any version of OpenBSD at any time. There also is a web interface. [...] OpenBSD runs on many different hardware platforms. OpenBSD is thought of as the most secure UNIX-like operating system by many security professionals, as a result of the never-ending comprehensive source code audit. OpenBSD is a full-featured UNIX-like operating system available in source and binary form at no charge. OpenBSD integrates cutting-edge security technology suitable for building firewalls and private network services in a distributed environment. OpenBSD benefits from strong ongoing development in many areas, offering opportunities to work with emerging technologies and an international community of developers and end users. [...] OpenBSD has gone through heavy and continual security auditing to ensure the quality and security of the code. OpenBSD does not support journaling filesystems. OpenBSD comes with Packet Filter (PF). This means that Network Address Translation, queuing, and filtering are handled through pfctl(8), pf(4) and pf.conf(5). OpenBSD's default shell is ksh, which is based on the public domain Korn shell. Shells such as bash and many others can be added from packages. Devices are named by driver, not by type. In other words, there are no `eth0` and `eth1` devices. It would be `em0` for an Intel PRO/1000 Ethernet card, `bge0` for a Broadcom BCM57xx or BCM590x Ethernet device, `ral0` for a RaLink wireless device, etc.

• OpenBSD

  OpenBSD is developed entirely by volunteers. The project's development environment and developer events are funded through contributions collected by The OpenBSD Foundation. Contributions ensure that OpenBSD will remain a vibrant and free operating system. The OpenBSD project produces a FREE, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Our efforts emphasize portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography. As an example of the effect OpenBSD has, the popular OpenSSH software comes from OpenBSD. OpenBSD is freely available from our download sites. The current release is OpenBSD 7.8, released October 22, 2025. This is the 59th release. [...] OpenBSD is developed entirely by volunteers. The project's development environment and developer events are funded through contributions collected by The OpenBSD Foundation. Contributions ensure that OpenBSD will remain a vibrant and free operating system. OpenBSD is freely available from our download sites. The current release is OpenBSD 7.8, released October 22, 2025. This is the 59th release. OpenBSD is developed entirely by volunteers. The project's development environment and developer events are funded through contributions collected by The OpenBSD Foundation. Contributions ensure that OpenBSD will remain a vibrant and free operating system. The current release is OpenBSD 7.8, released October 22, 2025. This is the 59th release. [...] ## (78.html) !(images/puffy78.gif) Only two remote holes in the default install, in a heck of a long time! The OpenBSD project produces a FREE, multi-platform 4.4BSD-based UNIX-like operating system. Our efforts emphasize portability, standardization, correctness, proactive security and integrated cryptography. As an example of the effect OpenBSD has, the popular OpenSSH software comes from OpenBSD. OpenBSD is freely available from our download sites. The current release is OpenBSD 7.8, released October 22, 2025. This is the 59th release.

• What is OpenBSD? Secure Open-Source Operating System Explained - Features & Uses | Lenovo US

  OpenBSD is built from the ground up with security as its primary objective. Its developers follow strict coding standards and conduct regular audits to identify potential vulnerabilities. Features like address space layout randomization, secure memory management, and privilege separation are baked into the core system, making it one of the most trusted platforms for secure computing. ## Can OpenBSD be used as a server operating system? Yes, OpenBSD is a popular choice for running servers that require high security and reliability. It supports services such as web hosting, file sharing, email, DNS, and firewalls. Many administrators deploy OpenBSD in roles where minimal attack surfaces and secure defaults are essential to protect sensitive data. [...] ## What is meant by OpenBSD in computing environments? OpenBSD is a free, open-source operating system known for its strong focus on security, correctness, and code transparency. It is designed to support reliable and secure computing environments by proactively identifying and fixing vulnerabilities. OpenBSD is often used in servers, firewalls, and workstations where secure data handling and system stability are priorities. ## Why is OpenBSD widely used for its security-first design? [...] OpenBSD development is headquartered in Canada, where the lead maintainers and a core group of contributors coordinate releases, patches, and development strategy. While the team is global, this central coordination ensures consistent direction and adherence to the project's guiding principles. ## Is OpenBSD free to use and modify for custom implementations? Yes, OpenBSD is distributed under a permissive open-source license, allowing anyone to download, use, and modify the system. Developers can create custom builds, redistribute them, or integrate OpenBSD components into other projects. This freedom promotes innovation and broad adoption. ## How does OpenBSD ensure transparency in its development process?

• What is OpenBSD? Overview & Latest Features | Liquid Web

  ## What Is OpenBSD? OpenBSD is regarded as the most secure general-purpose operating system to date. OpenBSD was forked in 1995 from NetBSD (read more on the complete history below) and is widely regarded as the most secure Unix-like operating system available. OpenBSD aims to be secure by default, meaning that one does not need to be a security expert to have a highly secure system. It is regarded as being more secure than other \BSD versions such as FreeBSD or NetBSD, Linux distributions, Microsoft Windows, or even Mac OS. OpenBSD has only had two remote code execution vulnerabilities in the entire operating system’s history. [...] Some built-in programs for OpenBSD 6.9 include: OpenBSD is also the hosting project of the packet filter (PF) firewall for use in firewall distros PFsense, OpenSense, and the Tmux terminal multiplexer. All of these programs are included in the base install. OpenBSD follows a blistering six-month release cycle with releases in April or May and October or November, helping to keep your data safe. In addition, releases are supported for one year. Keeping OpenBSD updated had been difficult following version 6x release cycles. With the release of sysupgrade and syspatch, upgrading to a new version and installing security patches for the current version are now easier. [...] OpenBSD touts per-process resource limits, Pledge and Unveil to restrict access to the file system, and system calls, making it far more secure than Linux. Theoretically, the only thing more secure than OpenBSD is some of the research microkernel projects used in real-time systems. ## OpenBSD Operating System Latest Version and Features OpenBSD 7.0 is the 51st and most current release and was made available on October 14, 2021. There are a total of 11,325 packages available, including PHP 7.3.30, 7.4.23, and 8.0.10, and MariaDB 10.6.4. Some major external programs included in OpenBSD 7.0 are: Some built-in programs for OpenBSD 6.9 include:

• What Is BSD? OpenBSD Security Basics

  ## Overview of OpenBSD OpenBSD is an operating system focused on providing a secure environment for servers and workstations. It was created as a fork of NetBSD in 1995 by Theo de Raadt, who aimed to build a more security-centric OS. OpenBSD’s design philosophy includes auditing code for potential security issues, implementing security features, and maintaining a minimalist and secure codebase. ### Key Features of OpenBSD [...] 5. Documentation: OpenBSD is well-documented, with comprehensive man pages and other documentation to assist users and developers. 6. Licensing: OpenBSD uses a permissive license, primarily the ISC license, which is similar to the BSD license. This makes it easy to reuse code in both open-source and proprietary projects. [...] ## Frequently Asked Questions Related to OpenBSD ### What is OpenBSD primarily used for? OpenBSD is primarily used for applications requiring high security and reliability, such as firewalls, servers, and network appliances. ### How does OpenBSD ensure security? OpenBSD ensures security through proactive code auditing, implementing various security features like W^X and StackGhost, and maintaining a minimalist, secure codebase. ### Can OpenBSD be used on modern hardware? Yes, OpenBSD supports a wide range of modern hardware platforms, including i386, amd64, and ARM, making it versatile for various environments. ### What are some notable features of OpenBSD?

• Image

  

• Instance Of

  Q20983788

• Inception Date

  10/18/1995