CodingButVibes

The Security Reality Check

Let's be clear upfront: OpenClaw is as secure as you make it. By default, it's actually quite safe — but misconfiguration can expose you to risks.

Think of OpenClaw like giving someone the keys to your house. You wouldn't hand them to a stranger, but you'd trust a responsible friend. The same principle applies here: proper setup ensures only you (and your authorized devices) can access your AI assistant.

Security First Rule:

Never expose OpenClaw directly to the internet without authentication. Ever. This guide will show you multiple ways to ensure that doesn't happen.

The Three-Layer Security Model

We'll implement security in three layers:

Network Security — Who can reach OpenClaw
Authentication — Who can use OpenClaw
Access Control — What OpenClaw can do

Each layer adds protection. Even if one fails, the others keep you safe. Let's build each one.

Layer 1: Network Security

Option A: Local Network Only (Simplest)

The easiest secure setup: keep OpenClaw on your local network only.

# In your OpenClaw config
OPENCLAW_HOST=127.0.0.1 # Local only
OPENCLAW_PORT=8765 # Custom port

With this setup:

OpenClaw only listens on localhost
Can't be accessed from outside your machine
Perfect for desktop/laptop setups
Zero exposure to internet threats

Limitation: You can only use OpenClaw when on the same machine or network.

Option B: VPN Access (Remote + Secure)

Want to access OpenClaw from anywhere? Use a VPN. This is where NordVPN becomes incredibly useful — not just for privacy, but as a secure tunnel to your home network.

Setup approach:

Install OpenClaw on your home server/computer
Set up VPN access to your home network
Connect via VPN when away from home
Access OpenClaw as if you were home

VPN Options:

1. NordVPN Meshnet (Easiest): If you're already using NordVPN, their Meshnet feature creates a private network between your devices — perfect for OpenClaw access.

2. Tailscale (Developer favorite): Free for personal use, creates a secure mesh network.

3. WireGuard (DIY): Roll your own VPN server if you're technical.

I personally use NordVPN's Meshnet for my OpenClaw setup — it takes literally 5 minutes to configure and works on all my devices. Plus, you get the privacy benefits for general browsing too.

Option C: Firewall Rules (Advanced)

For production deployments, implement strict firewall rules:

# UFW (Ubuntu/Debian) example
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw allow from 192.168.1.0/24 to any port 8765
sudo ufw allow ssh
sudo ufw enable

This allows OpenClaw connections only from your local network (192.168.1.x).

Layer 2: Authentication

Step 1: Generate Strong Tokens

OpenClaw uses token-based authentication. Each chat platform gets its own token:

# Generate secure random tokens
openssl rand -hex 32 # For Telegram
openssl rand -hex 32 # For WhatsApp
openssl rand -hex 32 # For Discord

Never use simple tokens like "password123" or "mytoken". Always generate cryptographically random tokens.

Step 2: Configure Platform Authentication

Each messaging platform has its own auth setup:

Telegram (Most Secure)

# In your .env file
TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN=your-bot-token-from-botfather
TELEGRAM_ALLOWED_USERS=123456789,987654321 # Your user IDs only

Telegram is ideal because:

End-to-end encrypted secret chats
User ID whitelist (only you can message the bot)
No phone number exposure

WhatsApp (Convenient but Less Secure)

WHATSAPP_PHONE_NUMBERS=+1234567890,+0987654321
WHATSAPP_VERIFY_WEBHOOK=true

WhatsApp considerations:

Requires phone number whitelist
Messages are encrypted but metadata isn't
Good for family/personal use

Step 3: Enable Two-Factor Authentication

For extra security, enable 2FA on OpenClaw itself:

# In config
OPENCLAW_2FA_ENABLED=true
OPENCLAW_2FA_METHOD=totp # Time-based one-time passwords

Now even if someone gets your chat credentials, they can't use OpenClaw without your 2FA codes.

Layer 3: Access Control

Principle of Least Privilege

Golden rule: Only give OpenClaw access to what it needs. Start minimal, expand gradually.

File System Access

# Restrict file access to specific directories
OPENCLAW_ALLOWED_PATHS=/home/user/openclaw-data,/home/user/documents
OPENCLAW_DENIED_PATHS=/etc,/var,/root,/home/user/.ssh

This prevents OpenClaw from accessing sensitive system files or SSH keys.

Command Execution

Be extremely careful with shell command permissions:

# Whitelist safe commands only
OPENCLAW_ALLOWED_COMMANDS=ls,cat,grep,find,python3
OPENCLAW_DENIED_COMMANDS=rm,sudo,su,passwd,ssh
OPENCLAW_SHELL_TIMEOUT=30 # Kill long-running commands

Never allow:

sudo or su commands
Password-changing utilities
System configuration tools
Network utilities that could be abused

API Permissions

Limit what external services OpenClaw can access:

# Scope API permissions
GMAIL_SCOPES=gmail.readonly,gmail.send # No delete
CALENDAR_SCOPES=calendar.events.create # No modify
GITHUB_SCOPES=repo:status,public_repo # No private repos

Run OpenClaw as Non-Root User

Critical: Never run OpenClaw as root. Create a dedicated user:

# Create openclaw user with no sudo rights
sudo useradd -m -s /bin/bash openclaw
sudo -u openclaw mkdir /home/openclaw/app
# Copy OpenClaw files and set permissions
sudo chown -R openclaw:openclaw /home/openclaw/app

Secure Deployment Strategies

Strategy 1: Dedicated Machine (Most Secure)

Use a separate machine for OpenClaw:

Raspberry Pi 5 — $80, perfect for OpenClaw
Old laptop — Repurpose hardware you already have
Mac Mini — More power for local AI models

Benefits:

Complete isolation from personal data
Can wipe and restart anytime
Easy to monitor and audit
No risk to your main system

Strategy 2: Docker Container (Developer Friendly)

Run OpenClaw in a Docker container for isolation:

# docker-compose.yml
version: '3.8'
services:
  openclaw:
    image: openclaw/openclaw:latest
    user: "1000:1000" # Non-root
    read_only: true # Read-only filesystem
    tmpfs:
      - /tmp
      - /var/run
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data:rw # Only writable directory
    network_mode: bridge
    restart: unless-stopped

Docker provides:

Process isolation
Resource limits
Easy backup/restore
Consistent environment

Strategy 3: Cloud VM (With Caution)

If you must use a cloud VM, lock it down hard:

Use a firewall — Only allow your IP
Enable disk encryption — Protect data at rest
Regular backups — Encrypted, of course
Monitor access logs — Watch for intrusions
Use VPN only — Never expose ports directly

Cloud VM Warning:

Your cloud provider can technically access your VM. If you're handling sensitive data, self-host on hardware you control. Use cloud VMs only for non-sensitive automation.

Security Monitoring & Auditing

Enable Comprehensive Logging

# In OpenClaw config
OPENCLAW_LOG_LEVEL=info
OPENCLAW_LOG_ALL_COMMANDS=true
OPENCLAW_LOG_API_CALLS=true
OPENCLAW_LOG_ROTATION=daily
OPENCLAW_LOG_RETENTION_DAYS=30

Review logs weekly for:

Unexpected access attempts
Unusual command patterns
Failed authentication
Errors that might indicate attacks

Set Up Alerts

Configure alerts for security events:

# Alert on suspicious activity
OPENCLAW_ALERT_ON_NEW_IP=true
OPENCLAW_ALERT_ON_FAILED_AUTH=true
OPENCLAW_ALERT_ON_SENSITIVE_COMMAND=true
OPENCLAW_ALERT_EMAIL=your-email@example.com

Quick Security Checklist

Before going live with OpenClaw, verify:

✅ Network Security

[ ] Not exposed to public internet
[ ] VPN or local-only access configured
[ ] Firewall rules in place
[ ] Non-standard port (not 8080)

✅ Authentication

[ ] Strong, random tokens generated
[ ] User whitelist configured
[ ] 2FA enabled if available
[ ] Platform-specific auth configured

✅ Access Control

[ ] Running as non-root user
[ ] File system access restricted
[ ] Dangerous commands blocked
[ ] API scopes minimized

✅ Monitoring

[ ] Logging enabled
[ ] Log rotation configured
[ ] Security alerts set up
[ ] Regular review scheduled

Common Security Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Mistake: Using default ports

Default ports (8080, 3000) are the first thing attackers scan. Always use custom ports above 10000.

❌ Mistake: "I'll secure it later"

Security isn't something you add later. Set it up right from the start. It's much harder to secure a running system.

❌ Mistake: Sharing tokens in configs

Never commit tokens to Git. Use environment variables and .env files (added to .gitignore).

❌ Mistake: Testing with production data

Set up a separate test instance with dummy data. Don't learn security lessons with real emails and passwords.

Recommended Security Tools

These tools help secure your OpenClaw deployment:

VPN Solutions

NordVPN — Meshnet feature perfect for OpenClaw remote access
Tailscale — Free mesh VPN, developer-friendly
WireGuard — Fast, modern VPN protocol

Monitoring Tools

fail2ban — Blocks IPs after failed login attempts
Netdata — Real-time performance and health monitoring
Grafana + Loki — Log aggregation and visualization

Security Scanners

Lynis — Audits your Linux security configuration
OWASP ZAP — Scans for web vulnerabilities
ClamAV — Open-source antivirus for Linux

Progressive Security Approach

Don't feel overwhelmed. Start simple and add security layers as you go:

Week 1: Basic Security

Local-only access
Strong authentication tokens
Non-root user
Basic file restrictions

Week 2-4: Enhanced Security

VPN setup for remote access
Firewall configuration
Command whitelisting
Logging enabled

Month 2+: Production Security

2FA implementation
Security monitoring
Automated alerts
Regular security audits

Final Thoughts

OpenClaw's power is its ability to act on your behalf. With that power comes the responsibility to secure it properly. But don't let security concerns stop you from using it — just be smart about it.

Start with the basics: local-only access, strong authentication, and restricted permissions. You can always add more security layers as your usage grows.

Remember: the most secure OpenClaw setup is one you actually use and maintain. Don't over-engineer to the point where it becomes unusable. Find your balance between security and convenience.

Ready to Start?

Follow this guide step-by-step and you'll have a secure OpenClaw setup. For remote access, I strongly recommend NordVPN's Meshnet — it's what I use for my own OpenClaw instance.

Next steps: Check out What is OpenClaw? for the complete introduction, or see how it compares in OpenClaw vs ChatGPT, Claude & Siri.