Use GitHub Copilot safely with these essential security practices. Prevent AI-generated vulnerabilities in your code.
Verify your app follows these best practices automatically.
Copilot accelerates coding, but AI-generated code can contain vulnerabilities. These practices help you leverage Copilot while maintaining security.
Never auto-accept Copilot suggestions for auth, crypto, input validation, or database queries.
Manually verify any code handling authentication, passwords, or sensitive data
Copilot uses comments as context. Never put real API keys or credentials in comments.
Use placeholder values in comments, configure real secrets via environment variables
Configure files and paths to exclude from Copilot's context to protect sensitive code.
Configure exclusions in Settings → Copilot → Content Exclusions
Configure Copilot to filter out suggestions that match public code to avoid license issues.
Enable 'Suggestions matching public code' filter in settings
Copilot doesn't understand your security requirements. Validate suggestions meet your needs.
Check that suggestions align with your security policies and requirements
Run static analysis on Copilot-generated code to catch common vulnerabilities.
Configure ESLint security plugins or Semgrep to scan code
Copilot optimizes for plausibility, not security
Review security-critical code before accepting
Copilot sends context to GitHub, potentially exposing secrets
Use generic placeholders in comments, never real credentials
Copilot often suggests outdated or insecure crypto patterns
Use established crypto libraries, not Copilot-generated crypto
Following best practices is the first step. Verify your app is actually secure with a comprehensive security scan.
Scan Your App FreeCopilot sends code context for suggestions but GitHub claims not to use private code for training (Business/Enterprise tiers). Check the current privacy policy for your tier.
Copilot can generate secure code, but also insecure code. It optimizes for what looks right, not security. Always review security-critical suggestions.
Yes, use content exclusions to disable Copilot for files containing credentials, security configurations, or proprietary algorithms.
Last updated: January 2026