Socket is a software supply chain security company founded in 2021 and backed by Andreessen Horowitz. Its platform is designed to protect applications from malicious open source packages - a growing concern given that open source code now makes up a significant share of modern software. Rather than relying on reactive scanning against known vulnerability databases, Socket analyzes the actual behavior of dependencies through deep package inspection, detecting and blocking threats in real time.
The Socket platform identifies a broad range of threat types, including malware, typo-squatting, hidden code, and permission creep. It detects over 100 zero-day attacks every week. The approach is built to integrate into developer workflows without disruption - a deliberate design choice that distinguishes it from traditional security tooling, which can slow down development teams.
Socket serves organizations across technology, media, healthcare, and finance. Its focus is on proactive, behavior-based detection rather than after-the-fact remediation, positioning it within the emerging discipline of software supply chain security - an area that has attracted sustained attention following high-profile incidents affecting widely used open source ecosystems.