February 20, 2026
Open-source, open drama
How to Review an AUR Package
Arch’s DIY app store gets a malware scare — and the comments go nuclear
TLDR: After three malicious community packages were pulled, Arch maintainers posted a plain‑English guide to checking install scripts. Commenters clashed over convenience vs caution—“no sudo ever,” burnout over sloppy uploads, and calls to read before you click—because your open-source freedom shouldn’t come with surprise malware.
Arch Linux’s community “app store” just had a scare: three user-submitted packages were found with malware and swiftly erased. In response, a maintainer dropped a crash course on how to check those build recipes (called PKGBUILDs) before you install. The tutorial is calm; the comments are not.
The loudest chorus: never trust a script that asks for administrator powers—as one user snapped, "Build scripts should not run sudo… it’s wrong." Others praised the deep-dive malware analysis and called this a needed wake‑up. Meanwhile, a familiar fight reignited: convenience tools that auto-install from the AUR (so‑called “helpers”) vs. old‑school “read the script” purists.
A mega-maintainer vented about “pure slop” uploads and constant cleanup duty, sparking sympathy—and pushback from newbies who just want easy installs. Jokes flew about “sudo” being the 2025 jump-scare, and “namcap” (a checker tool) becoming everyone’s new best friend. Under the memes, the message is simple: trust, but verify.
It’s the eternal open‑source tradeoff: a big open door gives you all the apps—and sometimes, the bad guys. The community is split on stricter rules versus staying wild and open, but most agree on one thing: if you install from the AUR, your eyeballs are the first antivirus.
Key Points
- •On July 18, 2025, three AUR packages with malware were reported; Arch Linux maintainers removed them and implemented protections.
- •The article focuses on explaining PKGBUILD scripts and how to review them, referencing an external malware analysis for technical details.
- •The AUR is a user-submitted repository of PKGBUILD files with submission rules and a maintainer model overseen by moderators.
- •Installing AUR packages typically involves running makepkg and may require handling AUR-only dependencies; AUR helpers offer convenience but have drawbacks.
- •PKGBUILD files are Bash scripts with a standard structure, including a maintainer line, metadata variables, and build/install functions, which users should vet before use.