Is there a danger when downloading free Add-ons that “are not” in the Blender market?
I see free Add-ons that are in Gumroad or Github. Could Add-ons in these two places possibly contain viruses?
Or, is the Add-on ability in Blender safe?
Add-ons that are on Gumroad or Github are in code form - you can literally read what is included in the add-on’s scripting before installing them. This isn’t like downloading an .exe from a website that says it is hosting a freeware of VLC that happens to also secretly install Avast Antivirus while you are in the process of install.
All add-ons are equally dangerous- Python can do pretty much whatever on your computer or network, so you take a risk when installing any add-on. This includes add-ons from the Blender extensions site, where there are add-ons that claim to honor the “Allow Online Access” rule in preferences but do no such thing. Ultimately, it’s up to your discretion on what to trust. As said, the best thing you can do is read the code and see if it feels good
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