# Chainguard vs Socket

With Chainguard, you can turn off live access to public registries and pull every dependency from a malware and CVE-free source without adding security reviews.

## FEATURES

### Malware protection

- Multiple layers of malware protection. Packages pass through advanced malicious behavior scanning, cooldowns, and build-from-source validation.
- Blocks known malware at pull time. Struggles protecting against binary artifacts (compiled wheels, Java JARs).

### Greyware prevention

- Yes. Chainguard-built scanner that blocks packages no reasonable developer would want.
- Nothing explicitly blocks greyware. Offers behavioral flagging via Socket Health Score, but spotty detection.

### CVE backports

- Yes. Built from source backports for hard-to-upgrade versions of Python and Java projects.
- Yes, however Socket only offers patch files that are appended via an install-time script for JavaScript.

### SBOMs and provenance

- Yes. Available for all Chainguard-built packages, including all remediated versions for proof of integrity.
- No, Socket does not provide SBOMs or provenance. Proof of CVE remediation requires a proprietary dashboard.

### Language ecosystem support

- Support for JavaScript, Python, and Java. New languages coming soon.
- Firewall spans JavaScript, Python, Java, Ruby, Rust, Go, and .NET. Wrapper Mode limited to JavaScript, Python, and Rust.

### SDLC coverage

- Trusted, vetted artifacts for Libraries, Containers, Actions, Agent Skills, and VMs.
- Socket does not provide any artifacts for consumption aside from their bespoke Certified Patch files.

## The world’s leading companies trust Chainguard

## What sets Chainguard apart from Socket?

Chainguard solves the malware problem that Socket informs you about. Chainguard offers a safe source to replace public registries, CVE backports with verified artifact integrity, and admin controls to ensure enforcement. Socket adds new security reviews, false positive triaging, and unneeded compliance toil.

### Covers your full stack

Chainguard reduces known and unknown risk across more artifacts than Socket, such as container images, skills, and actions.

### No exposure window

Chainguard always vets packages before they’re accessible with multiple layers of security controls.

### Verifiable proof of integrity

All Chainguard-built artifacts come with SBOMs and provenance for auditable proof of security.

## Hear directly from Chainguard users

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Chainguard sets itself apart by providing supply chain security through purpose-built packages in their registry, making it clear that while competitors might still be playing catch-up in the minor leagues, Chainguard is clearly in a league of its own, setting the standard for supply chain security.

Karl H.

Principal Engineer

Chainguard is truly doing things differently. They're building an incredible team and really disrupting 40+ year old assumptions on how to manage and deploy software. I've never been more optimistic that change is coming.

Rob Gil

Security Architecture @ Okta

Chainguard support is excellent and fast. Chainguard images are lean, secure and easy to integrate. Updates are frequent and easy to implement.

Shaun McDonnell

Director of Platform Engineering

I don’t usually post unless it’s worth your time — but if you’re in dev or security and not checking out Chainguard for your container images, you’re missing out.

### Results that speak for themselves

- 424,000+ Engineering Hours Saved
- 106,000+ CVEs Remediated
- 20 hours avG remediation time for critical CVEs
- 85% Reduction in Attack Surface
- 97.6% Avg. Reduction in CVEs

## Start building with Chainguard

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