Introducing Custom Pull Request Alert Comment Headers

We're excited to introduce the ability to customize the header text that appears at the top of Socket’s pull request alert comments. This new feature lets you give your developers clear, consistent security guidance right inside the pull request.

The header is edited from the GitHub settings page in the Socket dashboard. Click Customize the Header to open a Markdown editor with live preview. If you leave it empty, Socket will use the default header.

This is the first step toward making Socket’s PR alerts a configurable communication surface for your team.

Keep Security Guidance Visible In PRs#

Security teams often repeat the same context in different channels. The Socket GitHub bot carries that guidance to the code review surface so developers see it at the moment of decision. This reduces back and forth, speeds up triage, and makes expectations clear for every PR.

Think of Socket as a lightweight communication layer between security and engineering. Custom headers let you encode policy and process once and reuse it across repositories and teams.

Good Use Cases#

• Add a short triage checklist that developers can follow.
• Link to your internal response playbook or runbook.
• Remind reviewers where to escalate and who to tag for higher risk changes.
• Provide policy context that explains why an alert matters.

Rollout Tips#

• Align with your review policy first, then codify that policy in the header.
• Keep it short. The body of the alert already carries details from Socket.
• Use links for deeper guidance rather than long paragraphs.
• Revisit the header quarterly to reflect process changes.

FAQ#

Does the header change the alert content?
No. It only changes the introductory header at the top of Socket’s PR comment.

Who sees the header?
Anyone viewing the PR where the Socket bot posts an alert comment.

What formatting is supported?
Standard Markdown. Use headings, bold, italics, lists, code blocks, and links.

Building The Next Layer Of Security Communication#

We are exploring ways to help teams coordinate security decisions faster in the pull request while keeping developers in the flow and giving AppSec the context they need. The focus is on reducing friction during triage, capturing lightweight context when decisions are made, making it easy to ask for help without leaving the PR, and routing decisions to the right people with appropriate visibility. Customizable headers are the first building block in this direction.

Try it#

Open the GitHub settings page in your Socket dashboard and select Customize the Header. Add your guidance, save, and open a pull request that triggers a Socket alert to see it in action!