Is OpenClaw safe to install on my personal computer?

It depends on what you mean by "safe." The installation process itself is harmless -- it is a Node.js package installed via npm. The risk comes from how OpenClaw operates after installation. By default, it has full access to your files, can execute code, and can connect to the internet. If you follo

Can OpenClaw steal my passwords and personal files?

Out of the box, yes -- OpenClaw can read any file your user account can access. That includes browser password databases, SSH keys, cloud credentials, and personal documents. It will not do this intentionally (it follows your instructions), but it can be tricked into doing it through prompt injectio

Is ClawHub safe? Should I install skills from it?

ClawHub is not safe by default. Two independent audits found that 12-20% of skills are malicious or contain dangerous vulnerabilities. We recommend sticking to built-in skills unless you can read and audit the source code of every third-party skill you install. See Step 5 in the hardening checklist

Has anyone actually been hacked through OpenClaw?

Yes. The ClawHavoc campaign (documented by Koi Security in February 2026) distributed Atomic Stealer malware through malicious ClawHub skills, targeting macOS users specifically. CVE-2026-25253 was confirmed exploited in the wild before the patch was released. The exact number of victims is unknown,

Is OpenClaw safer now that OpenAI owns it?

It is too early to tell. The acquisition was completed on February 14, 2026, and the transition to a foundation model is still underway. The potential for better security resources is real, but so are the concerns about telemetry and paywall features. The 10-step hardening checklist works regardless

What is the safest way to use OpenClaw right now?

The safest configuration is: run it inside a Docker container, bind it to localhost only, update to v2026.1.29+, enable sandbox mode, use deny-by-default tool permissions, install no third-party skills, set up a network egress allowlist, store API keys in environment variables, use session-scoped me

How does OpenClaw compare to running Claude or ChatGPT directly?

Cloud-based AI tools like Claude.ai and ChatGPT are significantly more secure by default because they run on the provider's servers, not your machine. They cannot read your files, cannot execute code on your system, and cannot be remotely exploited through your local network. The tradeoff is that Op

Is OpenClaw Safe? The Honest Answer (With 10-Step Hardening Checklist)

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