I found a GitHub repository with 411 stars that was straight-up malware. The stars made it look legitimate, but the account had no history, no real discussion, and the code immediately downloaded another program. Here are the five checks I now run before downloading anything from GitHub.
Check 1: When did the project appear?
Open the Commits page. If the whole repo landed in one big upload a few days ago, that's a red flag. Real projects grow gradually.
Check 2: Who made it?
A brand-new account with one repository, zero followers, and no contribution history is not the profile behind a trustworthy popular tool.
Check 3: Are real people actually using it?
Stars without issues, pull requests, discussions, or helpful replies are often purchased. Look for genuine community activity.
Check 4: Does the code download more code?
The malware I found looked normal until it pulled down a hidden program and ran it. Watch for curl, wget, PowerShell downloads, and obfuscated installers.
Check 5: Are executables or terminal commands treated carefully?
.exe files and pasted install commands can run with your account's privileges. Never run one until you understand exactly what it does.
