MCPInstall

malware-detection-awareness

Understanding security risks in software distribution and recognizing illegitimate software packages

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1.1K
Last 24h
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Security
Not audited

Install

Works with every agent the skills CLI supports.

npx skills add https://github.com/reason-machines/security-skills --skill malware-detection-awareness
  1. 01

    Install

    Run the command in your project. The CLI asks which agents to install for.

  2. 02

    Describe the task

    Ask your agent for something this skill covers. It loads malware-detection-awareness automatically when relevant.

  3. 03

    Review the result

    The agent follows the SKILL.md steps, scripts and references bundled with the skill.

SKILL.md

The instructions your agent reads when the skill is triggered.

Malware Detection Awareness

Skill by ara.so — Security Skills collection.

⚠️ SECURITY WARNING

This repository exhibits multiple indicators of malicious software distribution. It does NOT contain legitimate Avast Premium Security software.

Threat Indicators

Red Flags Present

  1. Unauthorized Distribution: Claims to provide "pre-activated" commercial software with "keygen" and "loader" tools
  2. Trademark Abuse: Unauthorized use of Avast brand name and product names
  3. License Violation: No legitimate license; distributing cracked commercial software
  4. Suspicious Metrics: Artificially inflated stars (6 stars/day for empty repository)
  5. No Source Code: Repository contains no actual code or README
  6. Activation Bypass Claims: References to "keygen", "serial", "loader" - common malware indicators
  7. Generic Project Name: "DragonflyTomb" unrelated to security software

Common Malware Distribution Patterns

LEGITIMATE SOFTWARE:
✓ Official vendor website download
✓ Verified digital signatures
✓ Clear licensing terms
✓ Active development history
✓ Real source code
✓ Community engagement

MALWARE DISTRIBUTION:
✗ "Cracked" or "pre-activated" claims
✗ Keygens, loaders, patches
✗ Empty repositories with download links
✗ Star manipulation
✗ No verifiable source code
✗ Promises of "free premium" paid software

Detection Techniques

Repository Analysis

// Example: Programmatic repository risk assessment
package main

import (
    "fmt"
    "strings"
)

type RiskIndicator struct {
    Pattern string
    Severity string
}

func AnalyzeRepository(description, topics []string) []RiskIndicator {
    risks := []RiskIndicator{}
    
    malwareKeywords := []string{
        "keygen", "crack", "loader", "pre-activated",
        "serial", "patch", "activator", "license key",
    }
    
    for _, keyword := range malwareKeywords {
        descLower := strings.ToLower(description)
        if strings.Contains(descLower, keyword) {
            risks = append(risks, RiskIndicator{
                Pattern: fmt.Sprintf("Malware keyword: %s", keyword),
                Severity: "CRITICAL",
            })
        }
    }
    
    // Check for trademark abuse
    commercialProducts := []string{"avast", "norton", "mcafee", "kaspersky"}
    for _, product := range commercialProducts {
        if containsAny(description, []string{product + " premium", product + " pro"}) {
            risks = append(risks, RiskIndicator{
                Pattern: fmt.Sprintf("Unauthorized %s distribution", product),
                Severity: "HIGH",
            })
        }
    }
    
    return risks
}

func containsAny(text string, patterns []string) bool {
    lower := strings.ToLower(text)
    for _, pattern := range patterns {
        if strings.Contains(lower, strings.ToLower(pattern)) {
            return true
        }
    }
    return false
}

URL Safety Checking

package security

import (
    "net/url"
    "os"
    "encoding/json"
    "net/http"
)

// CheckURL validates URLs against threat intelligence
func CheckURL(targetURL string) (bool, error) {
    // Use VirusTotal API or similar
    apiKey := os.Getenv("VIRUSTOTAL_API_KEY")
    
    if apiKey == "" {
        return false, fmt.Errorf("API key not configured")
    }
    
    // Parse and validate URL
    parsed, err := url.Parse(targetURL)
    if err != nil {
        return false, err
    }
    
    // Check against threat databases
    // Implementation depends on chosen API
    return checkThreatDatabase(parsed.String(), apiKey)
}

func checkThreatDatabase(url, apiKey string) (bool, error) {
    // Example implementation structure
    // Real implementation would use actual threat intelligence API
    client := &http.Client{}
    req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", 
        "https://threat-api.example.com/check", nil)
    req.Header.Set("X-API-Key", apiKey)
    
    // Process response
    // Return true if safe, false if malicious
    return false, nil
}

Safe Software Practices

Verification Checklist

// VerificationChecklist for software downloads
type SoftwareSource struct {
    URL           string
    IsOfficial    bool
    HasSignature  bool
    LicenseValid  bool
    SourceVisible bool
}

func (s *SoftwareSource) IsSafe() bool {
    return s.IsOfficial && 
           s.HasSignature && 
           s.LicenseValid && 
           s.SourceVisible
}

// Example usage
func ValidateSource(sourceURL string) *SoftwareSource {
    source := &SoftwareSource{
        URL: sourceURL,
    }
    
    // Check if URL matches official vendor domain
    source.IsOfficial = verifyOfficialDomain(sourceURL)
    
    // Verify digital signature after download
    source.HasSignature = false // Set after file check
    
    // Validate license compliance
    source.LicenseValid = checkLicenseCompliance(sourceURL)
    
    // Ensure source code is available and reviewed
    source.SourceVisible = checkSourceAvailability(sourceURL)
    
    return source
}

Legitimate Alternatives

Official Avast Download

# Always download from official sources
# Official Avast website: https://www.avast.com
# Official download verification:

# 1. Download only from avast.com
# 2. Verify digital signature (Windows):
Get-AuthenticodeSignature "avast_installer.exe"

# 3. Check certificate issuer
# Should be: Avast Software s.r.o.

# 4. Purchase license through official channels
# Never use keygens or cracks

Incident Response

If Exposed to Malware

#!/bin/bash
# Emergency response steps

# 1. Disconnect from network
sudo ifconfig eth0 down

# 2. Run full system scan with legitimate antivirus
# Use Microsoft Defender (Windows) or ClamAV (Linux)

# 3. Check for persistence mechanisms
# Linux:
sudo find /etc/cron* -type f -exec cat {} \;
sudo systemctl list-unit-files | grep enabled

# Windows (PowerShell):
# Get-ScheduledTask | Where-Object {$_.State -eq "Ready"}
# Get-WmiObject Win32_StartupCommand

# 4. Review recent file changes
find /home -type f -mtime -1

# 5. Change all credentials
# Use a clean device to change passwords

Educational Resources

Learning Malware Detection

Legitimate Open Source Security

# Real open-source security tools

# ClamAV - Open source antivirus
sudo apt install clamav
freshclam  # Update signatures
clamscan -r /path/to/scan

# YARA - Malware identification
pip install yara-python

# Volatility - Memory forensics
git clone https://github.com/volatilityfoundation/volatility3.git

Reporting Malicious Repositories

# Report to GitHub
# Visit: https://github.com/contact/report-abuse
# Select: Report malware or abuse

# Report to vendor (Avast)
# Contact: https://www.avast.com/contact
# Report trademark violation and malware distribution

# Report to security communities
# Submit to VirusTotal, abuse.ch, etc.

Key Takeaways

  1. Never download cracked software - always contains malware risk
  2. Verify source authenticity - check official vendor websites
  3. Check digital signatures - legitimate software is signed
  4. Use official licenses - support legitimate developers
  5. Report suspicious repositories - protect the community

This skill teaches recognition of malicious software distribution, not usage of malware.

FAQ

What does the malware-detection-awareness skill do?

Understanding security risks in software distribution and recognizing illegitimate software packages

How do I install malware-detection-awareness?

Run npx skills add https://github.com/reason-machines/security-skills --skill malware-detection-awareness in your project. The skills CLI detects the agents you use and copies the skill into the right folder. For Claude Code you can also place the skill folder at ~/.claude/skills/malware-detection-awareness/ (personal) or .claude/skills/malware-detection-awareness/ (project).

Which AI agents can use malware-detection-awareness?

Any agent that supports the open Agent Skills format (a folder with a SKILL.md file), including Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, Windsurf, Cline, OpenCode and more.

Is malware-detection-awareness safe to install?

No partner security audit is available yet. Skills can run commands and scripts, so read the SKILL.md and any bundled files before installing.

Who maintains malware-detection-awareness?

It is published by reason-machines in reason-machines/security-skills. It has 1,117 recorded installs.

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