I ditched OpenClaw and built a more secure AI agent (Blink and Mac Mini)
coder.com
February 13, 2026
16 min read
Summary
OpenClaw allows users to create personal AI assistants that manage emails, calendar invites, automate browser tasks, and facilitate communication across messaging apps. A more secure AI agent can be built using Blink and a Mac Mini, avoiding exposure to the public internet.
Key Takeaways
- OpenClaw, a personal AI assistant, was found to have security vulnerabilities that exposed user data to the public internet due to its default network settings.
- The author built a more secure AI agent using a Mac Mini and open-source tools Blink and Tailscale, prioritizing a secure default setup without requiring constant maintenance.
- The new AI agent is designed to manage tasks like email triage and file organization while ensuring sensitive information is handled separately from general tasks.
- The entire setup for the new AI agent is free to run, with no subscriptions or cloud dependencies, emphasizing user control over data.
Community Sentiment
MixedPositives
- The alternative AI agent built with Blink and Tailscale demonstrates a commitment to security by isolating agents and minimizing public exposure, which is crucial for personal AI applications.
- The Mac Mini's low idle power draw of ~10W makes it an efficient choice for running personal AI agents, promoting accessibility for users interested in experimenting with AI on their own hardware.
Concerns
- Concerns about the security of OpenClaw highlight a troubling trend where security features are not prioritized in AI development, risking user safety and trust.
- The skepticism surrounding claims of improved security in the new AI agent suggests that the community is wary of unverified assertions in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Source
coder.com
Published
February 13, 2026
Reading Time
16 minutes
Relevance Score
43/100
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