We are real people who put our personal names and reputations on these projects.

DriverPacks, RyanVM, and nLite have been around for years. Google the names.
If malware were involved with our projects wouldn't someone have reported it?

My advise would be to find a mentor who isn't a noob.
(if he hasn't heard of these projects then he is a noob)[and has conspiracy issues]

like i said if your not sure we have been around for a long time google us...
run a virus scan
run a spyware scan
run a trojan scan

then tell you buddy he needs to learn his job.
because if he didnt tell you what i just did he is an idiot.
(and a noob)

Some of the testers and helpers are probably also wearing tin "pyramid" hats, so I believe there is no fear.

However, a good friend questions the safety of using (among other items) the DriverPacks- that personal information on my computer is now or will be compromised from unknown nefarious programs embedded in these packs. Either already existing or in some way added by other agents during the download.

Please advise.

If it were not for his background (network administrator) i'd file it with the rest of his conspiracy beliefs.