How to Manually Audit an npm Package for Malware Before Installing It

Hundreds of malicious npm packages were detected last year, many disguised as typosquatted versions of popular JavaScript libraries designed to steal credentials on installation. Security-conscious developers are advised to inspect packages before running npm install, since malicious code typically executes at install time rather than at import time. A recommended 10-minute manual audit involves checking package metadata for red flags such as a very new publisher, suspicious naming, or unexpected lifecycle scripts like preinstall and postinstall. Developers can use npm pack to download the registry tarball without triggering scripts, then scan the unpacked files for patterns like eval, process.env access, outbound network calls, and obfuscated code. No paid tools are required, making this workflow accessible to JavaScript developers, Node.js engineers, and DevOps teams managing security-sensitive codebases.