I just launched my first major project on GitHub and I'm wondering what security measures I should consider. I want to ensure no one can steal my work or mess around with my repository. What should I keep in mind?
4 Answers
If your repository is public, just know that anyone can view or copy your code, which kind of defeats the whole idea of 'stealing' since it's out there for everyone. On the other hand, if it's private, while you might feel a bit safer, be aware that sensitive information like API keys should never be committed. Even private repos can accidentally become public later, or you could give access to someone who then shares it inadvertently. Always scrub your history for sensitive info!
One solid strategy is to implement backup and disaster recovery tactics. This protects against accidental deletions, bad merges, and even ransomware. It's worth checking out a blog post like 'GitHub Security Best Practices' to learn more.
In terms of messing up your repo, that shouldn't be a problem if you’re careful about permissions. Only give access to trusted collaborators, and even if your repo is public, they can't change anything without your approval unless you allow it.
Thanks! I'll look into permission settings next.
Use 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your GitHub account and make sure your email is secured too. If you ever accidentally push sensitive info, consider it permanently exposed, even if you think you've removed it. Deleting a commit doesn’t actually scrub the history unless you go in and clean it up manually.
Good advice! I always enable 2FA, can’t be too careful.
Yeah, you really can't play it too safe. Just make sure to double-check what you push!