This is such an important conversation. The enthusiasm around AI agents is understandable, but the security mindset is just as important. I really appreciate how detailed and practical this is.
A thorough, practical guide emphasizing that AI agents like OpenClaw require careful isolation, monitoring, and strict rules to protect personal data and maintain control over their powerful capabilities
Damn Anastasia, this is amazing! Thank you not only for the theory but the practical walkthrough as well. The thing that strikes me in reading this through, though, is that there seems to be a huge personal choice that's needed around how secure you want to be versus how useful OpenClaw could possibly be. I don't think this is the kind of conversation that people are having, even though it's absolutely essential. Thank you for raising awareness.
Thank you so much, Sam! And you've put your finger on exactly the tension that motivated me to write this. Every security measure in this guide comes with a usability tradeoff. None of that is free.
I've been really tempted to try OpenClaw, I even wiped one of my computers out of security concerns. Digging into this article is giving me the confidence that it's time to just try it. Your right - there is no such thing as a perfectly safe agent. I recently connected my calendar (not my email) to Claude Cowork. I do think safety for consumers will get better over time.
Looks like the disclaimer you have before crypto investment :) thanks for putting all of this together. I also found this, might be of interest: https://github.com/prompt-security/clawsec
Security is a system of layers, not a single 'magic' step. Ethernet (plus disabling Wi-Fi) is about Network Isolation and removing the wireless attack surface. It’s one of multiple steps designed to work together to reduce risk.
Those steps are not sufficient enough to isolate that Agent and for your information the attack surface does not manifest just on WiFi but it's on the Ethernet ports as well. Threat surface = all surfaces not some. You are playing a very dangerous game giving advice to people to use Clawbot.
It's interesting that you assume you know my background and how it compares to yours.
I am not advising people to use OpenClaw. Quite the opposite. The guide is designed to show the considerable effort required to make it safer, precisely so that most readers conclude the cost outweighs the benefit. I state multiple times, explicitly, that this guide (or any guide) does not provide total safety.
This is such an important conversation. The enthusiasm around AI agents is understandable, but the security mindset is just as important. I really appreciate how detailed and practical this is.
Thank you so much!
A thorough, practical guide emphasizing that AI agents like OpenClaw require careful isolation, monitoring, and strict rules to protect personal data and maintain control over their powerful capabilities
Thank you, Petar!
Damn Anastasia, this is amazing! Thank you not only for the theory but the practical walkthrough as well. The thing that strikes me in reading this through, though, is that there seems to be a huge personal choice that's needed around how secure you want to be versus how useful OpenClaw could possibly be. I don't think this is the kind of conversation that people are having, even though it's absolutely essential. Thank you for raising awareness.
Thank you so much, Sam! And you've put your finger on exactly the tension that motivated me to write this. Every security measure in this guide comes with a usability tradeoff. None of that is free.
Thanks for reading!
I've been really tempted to try OpenClaw, I even wiped one of my computers out of security concerns. Digging into this article is giving me the confidence that it's time to just try it. Your right - there is no such thing as a perfectly safe agent. I recently connected my calendar (not my email) to Claude Cowork. I do think safety for consumers will get better over time.
Looks like the disclaimer you have before crypto investment :) thanks for putting all of this together. I also found this, might be of interest: https://github.com/prompt-security/clawsec
Using an Ethernet connection doesn't make safer at all.
But hey, use it at your risk.
Security is a system of layers, not a single 'magic' step. Ethernet (plus disabling Wi-Fi) is about Network Isolation and removing the wireless attack surface. It’s one of multiple steps designed to work together to reduce risk.
You're telling me about security? 😂
Those steps are not sufficient enough to isolate that Agent and for your information the attack surface does not manifest just on WiFi but it's on the Ethernet ports as well. Threat surface = all surfaces not some. You are playing a very dangerous game giving advice to people to use Clawbot.
It's interesting that you assume you know my background and how it compares to yours.
I am not advising people to use OpenClaw. Quite the opposite. The guide is designed to show the considerable effort required to make it safer, precisely so that most readers conclude the cost outweighs the benefit. I state multiple times, explicitly, that this guide (or any guide) does not provide total safety.
If it doesn't the minimum security, it should not be used /experimented especially for people who have no idea how to set security best practices.
It's fairly easy as integrity is a must in every domain.