Security checklist

OpenClaw Telegram assistant security checklist

A private Telegram AI assistant is useful only if access, tokens, logs, and hosting exposure are handled deliberately.

Use this checklist before you connect sensitive workflows, move from local testing to a VPS, or invite the assistant into a Telegram group.

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First principle

Treat the assistant like a real application, not a chat toy

Telegram makes the interface feel simple. OpenClaw adds powerful tool access and local context. That combination deserves a small but serious security pass.

1. Lock down who can talk to the bot

Start with direct messages from one known Telegram user ID. Do not rely on usernames as the security boundary, because usernames can change and are easy to confuse with numeric IDs.

2. Keep the bot token out of notes and chats

Store the Telegram bot token in the local OpenClaw configuration or secret store path you actually use. Do not paste it into public issues, shared docs, screenshots, or assistant-visible notes.

3. Avoid group access until the DM loop works

Groups add mention rules, topic IDs, multiple speakers, and accidental data exposure. Prove the assistant in a private DM first, then add group behavior intentionally.

Minimum safe setup checklist

Use a dedicated Telegram bot for this assistant, not a reused experiment with unknown permissions.
Allow only Roman’s numeric Telegram user ID or another explicitly trusted ID.
Test one direct-message workflow before enabling group chats, topics, proactive sends, or scheduled actions.
Keep AGENTS.md, SOUL.md, USER.md, and TOOLS.md free of raw credentials.
Do not put API keys, payment secrets, or app passwords in marketing project journals.
Check that logs do not routinely expose tokens, full payment payloads, or private message content.
Use the smallest model/tool access needed for the first working assistant loop.

When moving from Mac or PC to VPS

A VPS can make the assistant more reliable, but it also turns a local experiment into an internet-facing operational system. Before the move, confirm:

SSH access is key-based and password login is disabled where practical.
The firewall exposes only the ports you need.
OpenClaw Gateway, if exposed at all, is protected by the intended auth and network boundary.
Backups exist for workspace files, but secrets are not copied into casual archives.
You can restart the service and verify Telegram replies without opening broad access.

Group and topic safety

For Telegram groups, decide up front whether the assistant should answer every message, only mentions, or only messages in specific topics. A private assistant that answers too broadly can leak context or create noise.

Use topic-specific routing only after the direct-message setup is stable.
Keep work, personal, and experiment topics separated.
Review proactive-send targets carefully before enabling scheduled messages.
For shared groups, draft-first behavior is safer than automatic publishing under a personal identity.

What the Launch Kit gives you

The Launch Kit is not a security product. It is a practical setup kit that helps you avoid the common early mistakes: unclear access policy, messy persona files, weak troubleshooting order, and premature VPS complexity.

Start with the free checklist, prove the first private assistant loop, then harden the parts that will keep running.

Start with the Free Checklist