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Is Moltbot Safe?

Security risks and how to protect yourself

Security Guide

TL;DR: It Can Be Safe

Moltbot is open-source software that runs on your own hardware. It's as safe as you configure it to be. The main risks come from misconfiguration, not the software itself. Follow the checklist below to secure your installation.

5 Security Risks You Need to Know

API Key Exposure
High Risk

Your API keys (Anthropic, OpenAI, Google) are stored in config files. If exposed, attackers can rack up charges on your account.

Mitigation:

  • Never commit config files to public repos
  • Use environment variables instead of hardcoded keys
  • Rotate keys immediately if exposed
  • Set up billing alerts with your AI provider
Network Exposure
High Risk

Running Moltbot without authentication on a public IP exposes your dashboard, conversations, and API keys to anyone.

Mitigation:

  • Always enable authentication
  • Use a firewall (UFW, iptables)
  • Never port-forward directly to the internet
  • Use VPN or SSH tunneling for remote access
Conversation Privacy
Medium Risk

All your conversations are stored locally. If your server is compromised, attackers can read your entire chat history.

Mitigation:

  • Enable disk encryption
  • Regularly backup and rotate conversation logs
  • Don't share sensitive information with the bot
  • Consider self-destructing message settings
Agent Permissions
Medium Risk

Moltbot can execute code, access files, and interact with external services. Misconfigured permissions can lead to system compromise.

Mitigation:

  • Run in sandbox mode when possible
  • Limit file system access to specific directories
  • Disable tools you don't need
  • Review skill permissions before installing
Supply Chain Attacks
Low Risk

Third-party skills and plugins could contain malicious code. Always verify the source before installation.

Mitigation:

  • Only install skills from trusted sources
  • Review code before running custom skills
  • Keep Moltbot updated to latest version
  • Monitor for unusual activity

Security Checklist

Use this checklist to verify your Moltbot installation is secure. Critical items should be addressed immediately.

Authentication enabled on dashboard
Critical
Firewall configured (port 3000 blocked externally)
Critical
API keys stored as environment variables
Critical
Running on isolated network/machine
Disk encryption enabled
Sandbox mode enabled
Regular backups configured
Billing alerts set up with AI providers

Quick Security Setup

Enable Authentication
# config.json
{
  "auth": {
    "enabled": true,
    "username": "admin",
    "password": "STRONG_PASSWORD"
  }
}
Configure Firewall
# Block external access
sudo ufw deny 3000

# Allow only local
sudo ufw allow from 127.0.0.1 \
  to any port 3000

Stay Informed

Security is an ongoing process. Stay updated on the latest security news and best practices.

Recent Security AlertCrypto Scam WarningSecure Config Generator