The complete OpenClaw security checklist (9 points)
OpenClaw is powerful; misconfigured deployments show up on scanners and in breach roundups. Use this checklist before you point production traffic—or as a rescue audit if you already went live.
1. Network exposure
Default admin interfaces should not face the public internet without a plan. Restrict listening ports with host firewalls (e.g. UFW), reverse proxies, and VPN or tailnet access where appropriate. Re-check after every OS update.
2. Identity and control plane
Telegram bots, web dashboards, and CLI tokens should map to real operators. Use allowlists and rotate credentials when people leave the team.
3. Secrets and configuration
API keys belong in vault-style storage or encrypted env patterns—not committed to repos or pasted into shared docs. Separate dev/staging/prod keys.
4. Human approvals
Wire money, send bulk mail, or post to public channels only after explicit human approval in your tool of record (Telegram, Slack, n8n).
5. Sandboxing and plugins
Align with upstream guidance (e.g. OpenShell / NemoClaw-style isolation) so agent code cannot silently own the host. Vet plugins like you would vet npm packages on a payments box.
6. Logging and audit
Retain enough telemetry to answer “what did the agent try to do?” without logging secrets. Ship logs to a retained sink if compliance requires it.
7. CVE monitoring
Subscribe to vendor and ecosystem advisories. Test patches in staging; roll forward on a cadence that matches your risk tolerance—not “never.”
8. Backups and recovery
Configuration and memory stores should be restorable. Practice a restore quarterly; agents are worthless if you cannot rebuild the host.
9. Vendor and data boundaries
Know which subprocessors (model APIs, hosting regions) touch customer data. Document retention and deletion paths before procurement asks.