You do not give your private key to Chia or a Chia fork. Your client’s use of your key allows you to sync your wallet and farm. Your private key is not broadcast to Chia.
If an open source Fork can steal your key then so can Chia.
Stealing your key or any of the other exploits described in this thread would have to be coded into the open source and reviewed code.
If they are not open source then beware, but it is very difficult to pull such stunts in an open source environment.
Even if open source, do the cold wallets and virtual machines and other good security practices as always.
I don’t get the fear spreading.
There will be many forks of Chia and many will be able to use Chia plots. Why not get more mileage out of your plots? The new coins may fail, but some will blossom. After my already spent Chia investment it costs me nothing to try. Some of these new coins address issues Chia users have fumed about. Coins with little or no pre-mine, a coin limit, etc.
I feel good working with a smaller venture. The big corporate start-ups are less concerned and less appealing to me. No dis on Chia. Chia introduced a brilliant new concept. Now others follow in their footsteps and I choose to follow some of them.
Winning coins that have almost zero if any value at this time is still more a lot more fun than winning 0 XCH or watching the flow of pennies from my pool diminish every week. Farming a second coin does not stop or negate my Chia farming. It just adds another possible source of income. (and some fun)
Everybody take proper security precautions and enjoy yourself. Don’t let fear mongers sway you from having a good time and expanding your income potential.
Do your research. Understand how they have forked and what this means to you. Hang around in their forums, discords, reddits, github, etc. If they pass muster, take proper security measures and go for it!
Working with the little guys and actually chatting with the devs is fun! Farming your already made plots simultaneously for other coins is a bonus and pads your Chia bet.
Be well!