In an effort to strengthen the security of its AI agent ecosystem, OpenClaw has partnered with VirusTotal to scan every skill uploaded to its ClawHub marketplace. The move comes at a time when concerns are growing around malicious skills slipping into AI marketplaces, creating potential risks for both individual users and enterprises.
How the Integration Works
Going forward, every skill uploaded to ClawHub goes through a detailed security screening process.
First, each skill is assigned a unique SHA-256 hash. This hash is then checked against VirusTotal’s global threat intelligence database to see if it has already been identified as malicious.
If there’s no existing match, the skill is analyzed using VirusTotal’s Code Insight technology. This system uses advanced analysis to study how the code behaves and identify anything suspicious or potentially harmful.
Based on the results, skills are classified into three categories, safe (approved automatically), suspicious (flagged for review), or malicious (blocked from the platform).
Security checks don’t stop after approval. All active skills are re-scanned daily to detect any new threats or changes that could turn previously safe code into something risky.
The Growing Challenge of Smarter Threats
While this layered approach strengthens security, attackers are also evolving. Instead of hiding malware directly inside skills, some are now using social engineering tactics. In these cases, skills may look legitimate but trick users into downloading malware from external websites by presenting it as a required step or dependency.
The Bigger Picture
OpenClaw’s move is a strong step toward securing AI agent marketplaces, but it also highlights a broader reality, security is never a one-time fix.
Alongside technical controls, there is a growing need for better user awareness, stricter publishing standards, and easier ways for the community to report suspicious content.
As AI agents become more deeply embedded into business operations and everyday workflows, securing these ecosystems becomes critical. OpenClaw’s partnership with VirusTotal is an important step forward, but it also serves as a reminder that cybersecurity is an ongoing effort that requires technology, awareness, and collaboration working together.
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