SafeToClone

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Is that GitHub repo safe to download?

Paste a link and get a grade from A to F in seconds, with every warning sign explained in plain English. We also catch tricks aimed at your AI assistant.

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Each one is re-checked every night. Open one for its full report, or go straight to its GitHub page.

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    See every grade on one page

    How we score

    Four questions. 100 points. One grade.

    We only read public information on GitHub. We never download or run the code.

    30points

    Do people trust it?

    • How many people starred and copied it
    • How long the owner has been on GitHub

    25points

    Is anyone looking after it?

    • When it was last updated
    • How old it is
    • Whether it ships proper releases

    15points

    Is it open about itself?

    • A license
    • Real instructions
    • A way to report security problems

    30points

    Any malware tricks?

    • "Turn off your antivirus"
    • Password-protected zips, cracks, free premium
    • Fake stars, brand-new accounts
    • We read the name, topics, README and release notes
    • AI instruction files that try to hijack your assistant

    What the grades mean

    • A85–100Trusted

      Well known, looked after, no malware tricks found.

    • B70–84Probably fine

      No malware tricks, but missing some signs of a well-run project.

    • C55–69Be careful

      Something is missing or slightly off. Ask someone technical first.

    • D–Funder 55Unproven

      Nothing looks wrong, but it's too new or little-known to trust yet.

    • AnygradeDangerous

      We found tricks that malware uses. Don't download it.

    Some warning signs are so serious they cap the grade, however popular the repo is. A repo also needs at least 50 stars to get an A or B: a license and a README take minutes to add, so they can't make an unknown repo look safe on their own.

    A score is a set of warning signs, not a guarantee. A clever attacker can pass every check. When in doubt, don't install it on a work computer, and ask your IT team.

    Questions

    Questions people ask

    Does an A mean it's 100% safe?

    No. A grade is a set of warning signs, not a guarantee. An A means the project is well known, looked after, and shows none of the malware tricks we check for. A clever attacker can still pass every check, so only install what you need, and only from the official GitHub page.

    What's the difference between Unproven and Dangerous?

    Both can come with a low grade. Dangerous means we found tricks that malware uses, like asking you to turn off your antivirus. Unproven means nothing looks wrong, but the project is too new or too little-known to trust yet.

    Why can a repo with lots of stars still get a low grade?

    Stars are only part of the score, and they can be bought. A repo that got thousands of stars in a few days from a young account, or that asks you to turn off your antivirus, gets capped at a low grade however popular it looks.

    Can a GitHub repo harm my AI assistant?

    Yes. Files like CLAUDE.md, AGENTS.md, SKILL.md or .cursorrules give instructions to AI coding tools. A malicious one can tell your AI to leak API keys or run commands without asking you. We read these files and flag the ones that try.

    Is it safe to download code from GitHub?

    Most GitHub repos are safe, but some are malware dressed up as free tools. Warning signs include requests to turn off antivirus, password-protected zip files, brand-new accounts and repos that got thousands of stars in days.

    Do you download or run the code?

    No. We only read public information from GitHub: the project page, the owner's profile, the main folder, the release notes and any AI instruction files. Your browser asks GitHub directly.

    I already installed something marked Dangerous. What now?

    Uninstall it, run a full scan with your antivirus, and change the passwords you use on that computer, starting with email and banking. If it's a work computer, tell your IT team right away.

    Why didn't my check work?

    GitHub lets each visitor do about 12 checks an hour for free. If you hit the limit, wait a few minutes and try again. Some work networks also block GitHub, so try another connection.

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