Socket

Socket: Software Supply Chain Security

Socket is a software supply-chain security platform that inspects the open-source dependencies your code pulls in and flags or blocks the dangerous ones before they ship. Instead of only matching against a list of known vulnerabilities, Socket analyzes package behavior — looking for signs of malware, install scripts, obfuscated code, and suspicious network or filesystem access — to catch newly published malicious packages that vulnerability databases have not yet recorded.

It integrates into the developer workflow, commenting on pull requests so risky dependency changes are caught at review time.

Key Features

• Behavioral analysis of open-source packages, not just known-CVE matching
• Detection of malware, suspicious install scripts, and risky capabilities
• Pull-request integration that flags risky dependency changes
• Software composition analysis (SCA) across major ecosystems
• Dependency and supply-chain risk monitoring

Ideal Use Case

Socket fits engineering and security teams that depend heavily on open-source packages and want to stop supply-chain attacks — typosquats, hijacked packages, and malicious updates — at the point a dependency is added or bumped, rather than after a breach.

How Socket differentiates

Socket leads with behavioral detection aimed at catching zero-day malicious packages, where traditional scanners that key off known vulnerabilities are blind. Founded by Feross Aboukhadijeh, the company raised a $60M Series C led by Thrive Capital at a reported $1B valuation, and offers a free tier for open-source projects.

FAQ

What is Socket? A supply-chain security tool that detects and blocks malicious open-source dependencies in real time.

How is it different from a vulnerability scanner? Socket analyzes package behavior to catch new malicious packages, not only known CVEs.

Where does it run? In your developer workflow, including pull-request checks across major package ecosystems.

Is Socket free? Socket has a free tier for open-source use, with paid plans for teams and enterprises.

tl;dr

Socket is a freemium software supply-chain security platform that uses behavioral analysis to detect and block malicious open-source packages in real time, backed by a $60M Series C from Thrive Capital.