Yes, SourceForge.net is safe to use and download software from. SourceForge scans every open source software project uploaded to SourceForge.net. We have a partnership with Bitdefender, and use their technology to scan all open source projects on SourceForge so that users feel more secure in downloading clean and safe software that will not put their machines in jeopardy, nor bundle any adware, malware, or unwanted applications.
SourceForge displays an orange alert in place of the download button on any project that has been flagged as containing malware by our malware scans. Our definition of malware includes adware, viruses, and any unwanted applications that may be intentionally or inadvertently included in the software package of any project on SourceForge.
If you are interested in getting more details about what files are flagged by our scanner, you can click the “Files” tab to see exactly which files in the project were flagged. We’ve also disabled automatic downloads on projects that have been flagged, so a user would manually have to proceed with downloading a file that may contain malware. Project admins will get an additional dashboard that will provide more in-depth details on why a file was flagged and how to address it. Project admins will also be able to submit a support request related to any issue detected by the scanners, and they’ll also be able to request a file be whitelisted once we’ve reviewed it.
All new projects uploaded to SourceForge from brand new user accounts will not be accepted if they are flagged by Bitdefender scans upon uploading. Projects from users who have been registered with SourceForge for a certain amount of time will be able to upload projects, but if they are flagged they will display the warning.