What is OpenClaw AI?

OpenClaw, known previously as Clawdbot and Moltbot, is a free, open-source autonomous AI agent that can run on any personal device and manage a wide array of tasks, from summarizing news articles to creating workflows. Originally developed by Peter Steinberger — who has since joined OpenAI, with the project transitioning to an independent foundation — and released in November 2025, it gained widespread public attention in January 2026 and became notorious in a matter of weeks due to its multiple name changes to growing security concerns.

OpenClaw AI can access and read files stored within a device as well as execute script commands, like writing email summaries, reading documents, conducting research, managing calendar schedules, and automating thousands of other tasks for the user. The open-source AI framework can be integrated with different large language models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, Claude, or DeepSeek, and can switch between them without needing to be rewritten.

Users can grant access to most apps and accounts they want to be optimized — from databases, coding tools, and browsers to personal calendars, email, and even banking accounts. It acts as a centralized agent that can simultaneously manage multiple processes based on user objectives.

AI agents vs. AI assistants: What’s the difference?

AI development and the creation of tools like OpenClaw mean that new AI-related terms pop up that can appear similar yet cover very distinct functionalities. Although OpenClaw is advertised as a personal AI assistant, functionally it works as an AI agent. How do these two tool types differ in practice?

AI agents, or agentic AI, are autonomous systems that can take actions autonomously after receiving an objective, building a long-term memory of accomplished tasks. Once the objective is set, they break it up into steps and execute the functions accordingly. For instance, if a user creates an objective to book a flight, the agent looks up available flight times, compares the prices of different airlines, creates the ticket booking, autofills the relevant information, completes the payment, and adds the flight to the user’s calendar. Autonomous agents use the information from completed objectives to continuously learn, predict, and evaluate outcomes and implement previous results into future requests.

AI assistants are reactive tools that respond to each requested prompt with an output. It only responds to one specific request at a time and, unlike AI agents, can’t proactively respond to the full sequences of expected steps without direct input.

In the case of OpenClaw, the term “assistant” refers not to the technical functionality, but its role as a personal organization and productivity tool. Functionally, OpenClaw is an autonomous agent, but it is referred to as a personal assistant for marketing purposes.

From Clawdbot to Moltbot to OpenClaw: Why following the rebrands matters

Back in November, the OpenClaw agent was first launched under the name “Clawdbot,” referencing both the project’s lobster mascot Clawd — featured in OpenClaw’s logo — and Anthropic’s Claude, the LLM used for the agent’s early development.

In January 2026, the framework’s name briefly changed from Clawdbot to Moltbot. Anthropic reached out to Steinberger, requesting the name change because “Clawdbot” sounded too similar to its own branding. “Moltbot” only stuck around briefly before the project settled on OpenClaw, under which it has since established its presence online. Likewise, Clawd was renamed to Molty.

The rebrands had little impact on the agent’s functionality. However, they put a spotlight on a product, reeling in over 100,000 stars on the project’s GitHub repository by February 2026 and reaching 300,000 by late March, less than six months after launch.

Although software name changes are nothing new, fast-paced rebrandings like OpenClaw’s can be advantageous for cybercriminals. They can create malicious software, name it after an older iteration or use a very similar name, and place it on open-source repositories like GitHub. The user then installs the app, thinking it’s the real version, and grants it access to every app and account they want to optimize, essentially handing over their device and personal information to cybercriminals. Keeping up to date with the brand name and the latest software version can help users stay safer and avoid falling for malicious third-party developers.

How does OpenClaw work?

Like other agents, OpenClaw works by connecting to a large language model via an API and running as a Node.js service on your device. It can run on macOS, Windows, and Linux, as well as be deployed via Docker containers.

The user plugs the agent API in to their selected LLM provider. Once given instructions, OpenClaw breaks them down into smaller, executable steps. This allows the agent to work with complex requests without constant human intervention.

OpenClaw maintains a persistent memory to track all ongoing and past processes and remember instructions for future requests. The memory is contained in a local folder, which remains in place even if the user moves the API from one LLM to another. For instance, if the user decides to switch from ChatGPT to Claude and connect OpenClaw to it, it will carry on with the knowledge of previous objectives without the need for new configurations.

It’s used for the browser-as-a-tool framework, meaning it can interact with the browser like a human user would, accessing websites, logging in to accounts, and parsing content. This allows OpenClaw to perform tasks like:

  • Manage the user’s calendar by creating, accepting, and rejecting invitations as well as setting up reminders.

  • Read and summarize documents, websites, and other files.

  • Send and schedule messages and react to notifications.

  • Track ongoing processes continuously without user intervention.

  • Schedule specific actions and trigger them automatically.

  • Autofill login pages and forms with information about the user.

  • Navigate websites, click on links, interact with the internal structure, and drag and drop files.

The OpenClaw agent can perform multiple tasks simultaneously and store information about these actions in the local memory. It can learn from users’ input about errors and quickly adapt to structural changes of websites it frequently accesses. Users can provide additional API keys to grant OpenClaw access to other third-party services.

Is OpenClaw safe to use?

Although OpenClaw isn’t intended to be unsafe, it has faced issues that can cause security concerns. Since its release, cybersecurity experts have voiced criticism regarding the extent of access OpenClaw can gain to personal devices and accounts. The thousands of reported issues on the project’s GitHub repository have raised concerns about how reliable the agent really is and whether users are risking their data by embedding it into their systems.

Granting excessive access permissions to agents like OpenClaw can endanger the user’s data, with common security challenges including:

  • Unexpected data exposure. By granting full access to their devices, users might grant OpenClaw permissions to see and manage highly sensitive data, like confidential documents. 

  • Compromised credential privacy. Users grant OpenClaw direct access to their accounts. If the login credentials to these accounts are compromised due to a vulnerability on OpenClaw’s end, it could endanger a very large set of user data.

  • Prompt injection. Prompt injection attacks occur when malicious users embed hidden instructions into AI commands. If a user unknowingly runs these instructions, they can grant excessive access to their device, allowing cybercriminals to harvest data or manipulate future outcomes.

  • Malicious websites. Although most phishing websites get flagged quickly by specialized takedown services, AI agents run the risk of misinterpreting a spoofed website for a real one and providing sensitive information about the user to cybercriminals.

  • The “shadow admin” risk. Many organizations encourage employees to use generative AI tools to assist them in their work processes and optimize task delivery. However, tools like OpenClaw can run as shadow admins — tools that have elevated access to sensitive systems without the usual required privileges. If a tool like OpenClaw were compromised, it could put the organization’s internal systems at risk.

  • Data scraping. OpenClaw stores all records of its actions in the internal device memory. This includes information directly related to the user. If the user’s device were compromised, cybercriminals could scrape this unencrypted data.

  • API key risks. To extend OpenClaw’s functionalities, users often enter additional third-party API keys for authentication. If the credential access to these keys is stored unencrypted, cybercriminals can extract them if the device gets compromised.

The risk of autonomous AI: Why NordPass users should be extra cautious

OpenClaw requires extensive personal information and access permissions to run its tasks — from your full name and email address to your calendar events to your passwords and payment details. All this information being in one place makes it a treasure trove for cybercriminals. When you connect OpenClaw to your productivity apps and personal accounts via API keys, you give it access to sensitive information — including your login credentials.

Although an agent can autofill your passwords, credit card details, and other information as easily as a password manager, it may store this data without the same encryption protections as a tool like a password manager does. One wrong move, and all your account credentials could end up exposed. Successful prompt injection attacks and device takeover can grant cybercriminals easy access to your accounts without you noticing.

Even as you work on automating processes with a personal assistant like OpenClaw, you shouldn’t leave other security tools behind. Use the human-in-the-loop (HITL) verification process before handing over the reins to the AI. To prevent the risk of unencrypted data exposure, you should:

  • Set up two-factor authentication on your accounts. This will help you verify all legitimate login attempts, even if you put OpenClaw in charge of them, and let you spot unauthorized attempts more easily.

  • Switch to passwordless authentication. Use a method like passkeys to verify login attempts using cryptographic keys and device-level authentication, such as biometrics or a device PIN.

  • Store passwords in an encrypted vault. Use a password manager like NordPass to store and manage your login credentials. It will automatically detect new passwords, letting you easily store them via autosave, as well as autofill your credentials whenever you log in. However, unlike a personal assistant, a password manager will keep this data protected with end-to-end encryption. It will also prevent bad actors from detecting the passwords in your agent’s memory folder or accessing this information via malicious prompt injections.

Tips for using OpenClaw and other AI agents safely

If you want to use OpenClaw or a similar AI agent for your day-to-day life and work management, make sure you approach these tools with caution and safety in mind.

  • Use unique login credentials. Ensure all your accounts — including the LLM service you use to access OpenClaw — use unique passwords without repetition. You can use a password generator to easily update your login credentials with strong passwords.

  • Use sandboxed environments. Grant access to sandboxed environments, create alternative and testing accounts, or set up a virtual machine to prevent OpenClaw from gaining excessive information from your main profile.

  • Limit access permissions. Check the level of access permissions you grant OpenClaw when you connect it to a new app or account and limit it only to the functions you need the AI assistant to perform.

  • Monitor agentic activity. Always keep an eye on the background activity. Routinely review the logs of what OpenClaw did, what information it used, and what parts of your system it accessed.

  • Replace and adjust information to obfuscate it. If you plan to use OpenClaw to handle sensitive information, adjust some parts of the information, like names and numbers. This will allow the agent to still run the processes without incidentally exposing critical data.

  • Keep the software up to date. It’s the golden rule of every software: Run the security updates to prevent vulnerabilities. Malicious users monitor open-source AI codes like OpenClaw’s to spot weak points, and consistent security updates help prevent those exploits from impacting unsuspecting users.

  • Use it in conjunction with other tools without granting direct access. No matter how convenient it is, don’t leave all your optimization processes to OpenClaw alone. Ensure you have security and access management tools running alongside it to prevent system exploits and better secure your personal data.

  • Be mindful of third-party APIs and plugins. Carefully review APIs before connecting them to OpenClaw or another agent. Only install the plugins you need from the official developers.

  • Encrypt sensitive files. To prevent OpenClaw from accessing files with confidential information, encrypt them, set up password protection, or use an end-to-end encrypted file storage tool like NordLocker.

Bottom line

OpenClaw is a powerful tool that can greatly optimize daily tasks — as long as users are responsible with it. You should be mindful of how you approach it and how much access you’re willing to grant it. It’s never a good idea to put all of your eggs in one basket. Using an all-in-one tool can seem convenient at first, but specialized aid helps you stay safer.

For your account security automation, you can trust NordPass. It’s an intuitive password manager that lets you easily create, manage, and share passwords, passkeys, secure notes, and other personal information that you need to access daily. It uses XChaCha20 encryption and zero-knowledge architecture to ensure all items stored in your vault remain secure.

NordPass can generate strong passwords and detect new credentials via autosave. Its AI-driven autofill matches items in your vault to the website or app you’re visiting, giving you a one-click login experience that saves time and keeps your data secure. Add secure password management to your automation routine with NordPass Premium and reduce the risk of unexpected data breaches.