How does one keep up-to-date on all the different protocols? How can you trust one over another?
> How can you trust one over another?
Even though those protocols and tools are open source, I would take it easy, read the code, search for analyses about it, trying make sure that nothing is happening in the background (my sincere apologies to the authors), and after this compile it my self. I would use a dedicated machine for it, not my main computer, and monitor the traffic. I mean, I would not install/use them without minimal checking first.