The strength of OpenClaw is its community. Its weakness is also its community. A single malicious skill can compromise your environment. Here is how we defend the supply chain.
The Anatomy of a Malicious Skill
Attackers don't attack the core; they attack the periphery. They publish useful-looking skills—"PDF Summarizer", "Stock Ticker"—that contain hidden payloads.
Verification Protocols
Source Audit
Always check the source code of a skill before installing. Look for obfuscated strings, external network calls, and file operations.
Checksum Verification
Use cryptographic hashes to ensure the skill you downloaded matches the version published by the author.
Community Reputation
Prefer skills from "Verified" maintainers or those with significant community usage and history.
Safe Installation Workflow
Before running openclaw install, inspect the manifest:
# 1. Download without installing
openclaw fetch user/pdf-tool --dry-run
# 2. Inspect the entry point
cat skills/user/pdf-tool/index.js
# 3. Check for red flags
grep -r "eval" skills/user/pdf-tool
grep -r "base64" skills/user/pdf-tool
We are building a centralized signing authority for the official registry, but for community skills, vigilance is your first line of defense.