[Maris Crane]

Incidentally, you are right, I know nothing about coding.

I do have family members who talk about it, so I know it can be used for “other” than virtuous situations.

[Bikkuri]

Totally off topic, but it is an example of open/closed software.

Do you understand why Linux is so much more secure and safer than Windows? It's because it is called 'open' software, meaning that anyone and everyone can observe/scrutinize everything that is in the code.
Linux haters use this as an excuse NOT to trust it, but it quite the opposite. It is the safest BECAUSE it is being scrutinized 24/7/365 by anyone and everyone that wants to from anywhere in the world.

Windows/MacOS/iOS are very 'closed' (and they are all very well known for being spyware), and none of use have the ability to see what they have snuck in there, especially non-computer geeks).

This brings up the Dominion machines and the controversy about them. One of the MANY issues, is the fact that it's operating system is 'closed'. So, no one on the outside (99.999% of the population) of Dominion is able to scrutinize the code to see what it does.

I remember one of the first test programs I wrote (back in the early 80s) was to take the data input and give manipulated results (just to see/understand how it works). It is one of the simplest things you can do with code.
It was also less than 200 words IN the code.