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How to tell if an MCP server is safe

Quick answer. An MCP server runs tools your agent invokes, so treat it like installing a CLI. Check five things: a named, active maintainer (not a single anonymous one), recent upkeep, a clear permission surface (does it read/write files, run shells, or reach the network?), no unpatched advisories, and whether it's official from a model company. tashan surfaces these per server so you don't have to dig.

What are the real security risks of an MCP server?

The named ones: tool-poisoning / prompt-injection via tool descriptions the model sees but you don't; rug-pulls (a server silently changing tool behavior after you approve it); single-maintainer / supply-chain risk; and typosquats (near-identical names). None of these show up in a star count.

How does tashan help judge MCP safety?

Every capability page shows the bus factor (real contributor count), an archived/deprecated flag, the maintainer and license, and a plain-language read. It's a maintenance/adoption read, not a full audit — but it's the fast first filter a store's install counter can't give you. Read the methodology.

FAQ

Are MCP servers safe to run?

They're as safe as any tool you install — judge the maintainer, recency, and permission surface. Prefer official or well-maintained servers; be cautious with single-maintainer, archived, or typosquat-looking ones.

Can an MCP server steal my data?

A malicious one with file/network access could, which is why the permission surface and maintainer trust matter. tashan flags single-maintainer and archived servers as elevated risk.

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