Repository Analysis

privacyguides/privacyguides.org

Protect your data against global mass surveillance programs.

3.9 Likely human-written View on GitHub

Analysis Overview

This report presents the forensic synthetic code analysis of privacyguides/privacyguides.org, a Markdown project with 4,111 GitHub stars. SynthScan v2.0 examined 44,362 lines of code across 292 source files, recording 107 pattern matches distributed across 6 syntactic categories. The overall adjusted score of 3.9 places this repository in the Likely human-written band.

The scanner applied 160+ deterministic lexical heuristics, multi-line block detectors, abstract syntax tree depth profilers, and a cross-file Jaccard similarity matrix to construct a statistically normalised synthetic code estimate. All matches are individually weighted by severity coefficient and contextual multiplier before summation, and the resulting headline score is temporally discounted to account for the repository's development history relative to the commercial emergence of large language model coding tooling (November 2022 onward).

3.9
Adjusted Score
3.9
Raw Score
100%
Time Factor
2026-07-12
Last Push
4.1K
Stars
Markdown
Language
44.4K
Lines of Code
292
Files
107
Pattern Hits
2026-07-14
Scan Date
0.02
HC Hit Rate

What These Metrics Mean

Adjusted Score
Primary synthetic code indicator. Raw score normalised per 1,000 lines of code and multiplied by the temporal discount factor. This is the definitive comparative metric — use it to rank repositories by AI authorship density.
Raw Score
The unmodified sum of all severity-weighted, context-multiplied pattern match scores before temporal discounting. Reflects the absolute signal strength independent of when the repository was last active.
Time Factor
The temporal discount multiplier (0–100%) applied to the raw score. Repositories last updated before ChatGPT's launch (Nov 2022) receive a 5% factor. Full signal is only assigned to repositories active in the post-adoption era (Jan 2024+).
Pattern Hits
Total count of individual pattern matches across all files and categories. A high hit count with a low score may indicate a very large codebase with isolated AI snippets; a low count with a high score indicates dense, concentrated AI signatures.
HC Hit Rate
High+Critical pattern hits per file, averaged across the repository. This orthogonal signal catches repositories where a few files are densely packed with high-severity AI tells — a strong indicator even when the normalised score appears moderate due to codebase size.
Lines of Code / Files
Total lines and files analysed. The scanner examines 94 file extensions. These denominators are used to normalise the score, enabling fair comparison between repositories of vastly different sizes.

Score History

Longitudinal tracking requires multiple scan runs. Once this repository is re-scanned after new commits land, this chart will visualise how the synthetic code signal evolves over time — enabling you to detect whether AI authorship is growing, stabilising, or being actively corrected by human engineers.

No multi-scan history yet — run the scanner again to build trend data.

Severity Breakdown

Classifies detected patterns by their diagnostic confidence and structural impact. CRITICAL patterns (coefficient 10) represent definitive synthetic signatures — hallucinated imports, explicit LLM attribution metadata — virtually never produced by human authors. HIGH (5) indicates strong structural tells such as cross-file repetition or cross-linguistic idioms. MEDIUM (2) covers recognisable conversational padding and AI-specific vocabulary. LOW (1) captures subtle indicators like tautological comments and generic boilerplate that require density to carry independent signal.

CRITICAL 0HIGH 5MEDIUM 12LOW 90

Directory Score Breakdown

This horizontal bar chart decomposes the repository's raw synthetic code score by top-level directory, allowing you to pinpoint precisely which modules or components carry the highest AI authorship density. Directories with disproportionately high scores relative to their size warrant targeted manual review: concentrated AI signatures often trace back to mass-generated configuration layers, auto-ported test suites, LLM-scaffolded boilerplate classes, or entire subsystems authored under heavy copilot assistance. Use this view to prioritise your human code-review effort.

Pattern Findings

The scanner identified 107 distinct pattern matches across 6 syntactic categories. Each entry below represents a discrete location in the source code where the engine recorded a statistically significant AI authorship indicator. Expand any category row to inspect the individual file paths, line numbers, code snippets, and the lexical context (CODE, COMMENT, or STRING) in which each match was detected.

Reading the findings table: The Severity column indicates the diagnostic confidence level (CRITICAL / HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW). The Context column identifies whether the match occurred inside executable code, an inline comment, or a string literal — comment-context matches receive a ×1.5 weight because LLMs systematically over-annotate. The ⚡ bolt icon marks clustered matches: three or more patterns within a 10-line window, each receiving an additional ×1.5 density multiplier as dense clusters constitute far stronger evidence of synthetic authorship than isolated hits.

Fake / Example Data40 hits · 46 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md11This is an example of an admonition. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismod nulla. CuCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md11This is an example of an admonition. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismod nulla. CuCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md18This is an example of a collapsible admonition. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismoCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md18This is an example of a collapsible admonition. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismoCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md55Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md55Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md64Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md64Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md73Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md73Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md82Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md82Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md91Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md91Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md100Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md100Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md109Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md109Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md118Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md118Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md127Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md127Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md136Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md136Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md145Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md145Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md154Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md154Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.CODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md239 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md239 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md249Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md249Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md260 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md260 Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md270Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWdocs/meta/admonitions.md270Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla et euismodCODE
LOWblog/posts/real-name-policies.md268During an earlier purge in 2009, small-business entrepreneur Alicia Istanbul [suddenly lost access](https://www.sfgate.cCODE
LOWblog/posts/easyoptouts-review.md79*Privacy Guides* performed an initial search for personal information for each of our subjects on Google by searching foCOMMENT
LOW.vscode/ltex.hiddenFalsePositives.en-US.txt49{"rule":"MORFOLOGIK_RULE_EN_US","sentence":"^\\QLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.\\E$"}CODE
LOW.vscode/ltex.hiddenFalsePositives.en-US.txt49{"rule":"MORFOLOGIK_RULE_EN_US","sentence":"^\\QLorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.\\E$"}CODE
Structural Annotation Overuse25 hits · 38 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md84### Step 1: Download and Install KeePassXCCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md116### Step 2: Adjust the settingsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md145### Step 3: Create a databaseCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md208### Step 4: Prepare your YubiKey(s)COMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md216### Step 5: Add your YubiKeyCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md265### Step 6: Create a password entryCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md307### Step 7: Back up your databaseCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-keepassxc-and-yubikey.md338### Step 8: Install the browser extension (optional)COMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md165### Step 1: Download TailsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md189### Step 2: Verify the file you just downloadedCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md206### Step 3: Download and install balenaEtcherCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md227### Step 4: Install Tails on your USB stick using balenaEtcherCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md298### Step 5: Continue this tutorial from paper or from another device (if you can do so safely)COMMENT
LOWblog/posts/installing-and-using-tails.md306### Step 6: Boot your computer from your Tails USB stickCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md78### Step 1: Remove your keys from all accountsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md93### Step 2: Download and install the Yubico AuthenticatorCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md101### Step 3: Open the Yubico Authenticator and plug in your keysCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md127### Step 4: Delete your YubiKey's One-Time Password (OTP) applicationCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md151### Step 5: Reset your YubiKey's FIDO2, OATH, and PIV applicationsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md200### Step 6: Reset your YubiKey's OpenPGP and YubiHSM Auth applicationsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md364### Step 7: Secure your keysCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md395### Step 8: Create and register each key's OTPCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md510### Step 9: Create and clone your key's Challenge-responseCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md572### Step 10: Register and copy your key's OATH-TOTPs, Passkeys, Static passwords, and OATH-HOTPsCOMMENT
LOWblog/posts/yubikey-reset-and-backup.md684### Step 11: Generate and copy an OpenPGP key and subkeys to your YubiKeysCOMMENT
Decorative Section Separators12 hits · 36 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/page.yml98# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/page.yml100# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/pride.yml76# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/pride.yml78# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/blog.yml125# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/blog.yml127# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/video.yml60# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/video.yml62# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/home.yml59# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/home.yml61# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/toolbox.yml94# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
MEDIUMtheme/layouts/toolbox.yml96# -----------------------------------------------------------------------------COMMENT
Synthetic Comment Markers5 hits · 28 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
HIGH…cs/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil.md51- [**Biased reviews**](https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/09/03/red-and-green-privacy-flags/#fake-reviews): Is CODE
HIGH…cs/activism/toolbox/tip-beware-of-privacy-snake-oil.md51- [**Biased reviews**](https://www.privacyguides.org/articles/2025/09/03/red-and-green-privacy-flags/#fake-reviews): Is CODE
HIGHblog/posts/red-and-green-privacy-flags.md164Fake reviews are a growing problem on the internet. And this was only aggravated by the arrival of generative AI. There CODE
HIGHblog/posts/red-and-green-privacy-flags.md175### :triangular_flag_on_post: Fake AI-generated contentCOMMENT
HIGHblog/posts/digital-provenance.md89[Several](https://youtu.be/E4I6K8OEyho?si=wbWAUcLsjOA7yDnO) [history](https://youtu.be/cqrHmjGD1ds?si=k60RTO9MH177ASTS) CODE
Over-Commented Block23 hits · 23 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWmkdocs.yml1# Copyright (c) 2022-2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOWcrowdin.yml1# Copyright (c) 2023 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOWmkdocs.blog.yml1# Copyright (c) 2022-2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.markdownlint.yml1# Copyright (c) 2022 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOWtheme/layouts/toolbox.yml141 style: *title_font_styleCOMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/extra.css1/*COMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/home.css1/*COMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/lang-he.css1/*COMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/lang-zh-Hant.css1/*COMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/lang-zh-TW.css1/*COMMENT
LOWtheme/assets/stylesheets/lang-ru.css1/*COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/upload-crowdin.yml1# Copyright (c) 2022-2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/test-lint.yml1# Copyright (c) 2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/test-build.yml1# Copyright (c) 2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/publish-release.yml1# Copyright (c) 2021-2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/update-discussions.yml1# Copyright (c) 2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/publish-mirror.yml1# Copyright (c) 2022 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/workflows/publish-immediate.yml1# Copyright (c) 2021-2025 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/2_Website_Issues.yml1# Copyright (c) 2023 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/1_Content_Correction.yml1# Copyright (c) 2023 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/config.yml1# Copyright (c) 2020-2023 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.vscode/settings.json1// Copyright (c) 2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
LOW.vscode/extensions.json1// Copyright (c) 2024 Jonah Aragon <jonah@triplebit.net>COMMENT
Redundant / Tautological Comments2 hits · 3 pts
SeverityFileLineSnippetContext
LOWtools/delete-unreferenced.sh13# Check if assets directory existsCOMMENT
LOWtools/generate-topics.sh5# Check if the script is running on macOSCOMMENT