What is software supply chain security and why is it important?

Software supply chain security refers to the process of securing the full lifecycle of software creation, from developers contributing code into source control, through compilation into artifacts, to deployment and consumption. The strength of this chain is measured by its weakest link, making every phase vulnerable to threats. Security is critical because attackers can exploit weaknesses at various points - whether through account takeovers like in the case of UA Parser JS, typosquatting attacks targeting packages like Selenium, or through protestware that deliberately sabotages functionality. These attacks can lead to credential theft, cryptocurrency stealing, and remote access to systems through seemingly legitimate packages. Protecting the supply chain requires vigilance through measures like two-factor authentication, careful vetting of dependencies, and monitoring suspicious contributions in package ecosystems.