Imported from reason-machines/security-skills (skills/avast-premium-security-awareness/SKILL.md) via skills.sh. Install upstream with npx skills add reason-machines/security-skills --skill avast-premium-security-awareness. Copyright stays with the author.

Avast Premium Security Awareness

Skill by ara.so — Security Skills collection.

Overview

This repository is a potentially malicious software distribution channel disguised as legitimate Avast Premium Security software. The project exhibits multiple red flags common in malware distribution schemes:

• Promises "cracked" or "pre-activated" commercial software
• Uses keyword stuffing to appear in search results
• No actual source code or legitimate README
• Rapid artificial star growth (6 stars/day suggests manipulation)
• Suspicious topics mixing legitimate terms with crack-related keywords
• Username pattern suggests automated account creation

Security Analysis

Red Flags

1. Piracy Distribution: Claims to provide "Keygen Activation", "License Key Pre-Activated", "Premium Loader Serial"
2. No Legitimate Code: Despite claiming to be C++, likely contains no real source code
3. Social Engineering: Professional-looking description to gain trust
4. Star Manipulation: Unusual growth pattern (68 stars at 6/day) suggests fake engagement
5. No License: "NOASSERTION" on commercial software redistribution

Threat Assessment

// Common malware patterns in fake security software repos:

enum class ThreatType {
    TROJAN_DOWNLOADER,      // Downloads additional malware
    INFO_STEALER,           // Harvests credentials/data
    RANSOMWARE,             // Encrypts user files
    BACKDOOR,               // Remote access
    CRYPTOMINER,            // Uses CPU for mining
    ADWARE                  // Injects advertisements
};

struct RepositoryIndicators {
    bool promisesCrackedSoftware;
    bool hasKeygenInDescription;
    bool missingSourceCode;
    bool artificialStarGrowth;
    bool suspiciousUsername;
    int threatScore;  // 0-100
};

Detection Patterns

Identifying Fake Software Repositories

#include <string>
#include <vector>
#include <regex>

class MaliciousRepoDetector {
public:
    struct SuspiciousIndicators {
        std::vector<std::string> keywords = {
            "keygen", "crack", "pre-activated", "loader", 
            "serial", "license key", "full version", "premium free"
        };
        
        std::vector<std::string> patterns = {
            R"(\d{4}\s*\|\s*Full Version)",  // Year | Full Version
            R"(Premium\s+.*\s+Free)",          // Premium ... Free
            R"(Crack.*Download)",              // Crack...Download
            R"(Keygen.*Activation)"            // Keygen...Activation
        };
    };
    
    int calculateThreatScore(const std::string& description, 
                            const std::string& readme) {
        int score = 0;
        SuspiciousIndicators indicators;
        
        // Check for piracy keywords
        for (const auto& keyword : indicators.keywords) {
            if (description.find(keyword) != std::string::npos) {
                score += 15;
            }
        }
        
        // Check regex patterns
        for (const auto& pattern : indicators.patterns) {
            if (std::regex_search(description, std::regex(pattern))) {
                score += 20;
            }
        }
        
        // Empty or missing README
        if (readme.empty() || readme.find("No README") != std::string::npos) {
            score += 25;
        }
        
        return std::min(score, 100);
    }
    
    bool isSuspicious(int threatScore) {
        return threatScore > 40;
    }
};

Safe Practices

Verifying Legitimate Software Sources

#include <iostream>
#include <map>

class LegitimateSourceVerifier {
private:
    std::map<std::string, std::string> officialSources = {
        {"avast", "https://www.avast.com"},
        {"norton", "https://www.norton.com"},
        {"kaspersky", "https://www.kaspersky.com"},
        {"bitdefender", "https://www.bitdefender.com"}
    };
    
public:
    bool verifySource(const std::string& vendor, 
                     const std::string& url) {
        auto it = officialSources.find(vendor);
        if (it != officialSources.end()) {
            return url.find(it->second) == 0;
        }
        return false;
    }
    
    void printWarnings() {
        std::cout << "⚠️  SECURITY WARNINGS:\n";
        std::cout << "1. Never download security software from GitHub repos\n";
        std::cout << "2. Only use official vendor websites\n";
        std::cout << "3. Avoid 'cracked' or 'pre-activated' software\n";
        std::cout << "4. Verify digital signatures on downloads\n";
        std::cout << "5. Use official package managers when available\n";
    }
};

Reporting Process

How to Report Malicious Repositories

#include <string>
#include <ctime>

struct SecurityReport {
    std::string repositoryUrl;
    std::string threatType;
    std::string evidenceDescription;
    std::time_t reportedAt;
    
    std::string generateReport() {
        return "Repository: " + repositoryUrl + "\n" +
               "Threat: " + threatType + "\n" +
               "Evidence: " + evidenceDescription + "\n" +
               "Report to: github.com/contact/report-abuse";
    }
};

// Example usage
void reportMaliciousRepo(const std::string& repoUrl) {
    SecurityReport report;
    report.repositoryUrl = repoUrl;
    report.threatType = "Malware Distribution / Piracy";
    report.evidenceDescription = 
        "Repository claims to distribute cracked commercial security "
        "software with keygens and pre-activated licenses. Contains "
        "no legitimate source code. Likely malware distribution.";
    report.reportedAt = std::time(nullptr);
    
    std::cout << report.generateReport() << std::endl;
}

Environment Protection

System Hardening Against Malicious Downloads

# Environment variables for safe software verification
export VERIFY_DOWNLOADS=true
export QUARANTINE_UNKNOWN_SOURCES=true
export OFFICIAL_SOURCES_ONLY=true

# Check file signatures before execution
export CHECK_DIGITAL_SIGNATURES=true
export SANDBOX_UNTRUSTED_EXECUTABLES=true

Legitimate Alternatives

Official Avast Download

// DO NOT download from GitHub repositories
// Use official sources only:

const std::string OFFICIAL_AVAST = "https://www.avast.com/downloads";

// For Linux systems, use package managers:
// sudo apt install avast  (if available in official repos)
// Or download from vendor website only

Troubleshooting

If You've Already Downloaded

1. Do NOT execute any files from this repository
2. Delete immediately all downloaded files
3. Run a full system scan with legitimate antivirus (from official source)
4. Change passwords if any credentials were entered
5. Monitor accounts for suspicious activity

Safe Software Installation Checklist

bool isSafeToInstall(const std::string& source) {
    // ✅ Official vendor website
    // ✅ Official app store (Microsoft Store, etc.)
    // ✅ Verified package manager (apt, winget, chocolatey)
    // ❌ GitHub repositories for commercial software
    // ❌ File sharing sites
    // ❌ Torrent sites
    // ❌ "Crack" or "keygen" sites
    
    return isOfficialSource(source) && 
           hasValidSignature(source) &&
           !promisesFreeCommercialSoftware(source);
}

Conclusion

This repository is a textbook example of malware distribution disguised as legitimate software. Never download security software from unofficial sources. Always obtain commercial software through official vendor channels or legitimate resellers.