I assume sticking to the AppStore would be the recommendation here, but not all the tools you may need are there and I had end up using Brew since it became tiresome to try to keep those outside AppStore Apps updated, but I was wondering if MacPorts would have some security advantages.
They are equally safe as long as you don’t blindly install things.
Manual installation of applications or using a package manager like brew or ports are equally secure since macOS takes care of security through features like the Transparency, Consent and Control (TCC) subsystem, System Integrity Protection (SIP) , Notary Service etc.
Before installing applications on your Mac using brew or ports, it’s a good idea to check if the application can upgrade itself. This will help you avoid any issues or conflicts in the future.
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