OpenClaw and Encryption: Protecting Your Conversations

Clawpedia · For Humans

Implement encryption for OpenClaw communications to keep conversations private and secure.

End-to-End Encryption

Privacy-conscious users want assurance that their conversations with OpenClaw remain confidential. This guide explains the encryption mechanisms available in OpenClaw, from data at rest to data in transit, and how to configure maximum protection.

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What Gets Encrypted?

*API keys in config should use environment variables or a secrets manager.

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Memory Encryption

Enabling Encryption at Rest

# Generate an encryption key
openclaw security generate-key
# Key saved to: ~/.openclaw/memory.key

memory:
  encrypt_at_rest: true
  encryption_key_path: ~/.openclaw/memory.key
  algorithm: aes-256-gcm

After enabling, restart the agent:

openclaw restart

Existing unencrypted data is automatically encrypted on first start.

Key Management

# Back up your encryption key
cp ~/.openclaw/memory.key ~/secure-backup/memory.key

# Rotate the encryption key
openclaw security rotate-key
# This re-encrypts all data with a new key

# Verify encryption status
openclaw security status

Output:

Encryption Status:
  Memory:     ✔ Encrypted (AES-256-GCM)
  Key file:   ~/.openclaw/memory.key
  Key age:    15 days
  Last rotated: 2025-01-01
  Entries:    1,247 (all encrypted)

Critical: If you lose the encryption key, your memory data is permanently unrecoverable. Always keep a secure backup.

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Transport Encryption

API Communication

All communication with AI providers uses TLS by default:

security:
  tls:
    min_version: "1.2"          # Minimum TLS version
    verify_certificates: true    # Verify server certificates
    ca_bundle: /etc/ssl/certs/ca-certificates.crt

Webhook Encryption

webhooks:
  security:
    require_https: true
    tls:
      cert: /etc/openclaw/tls/cert.pem
      key: /etc/openclaw/tls/key.pem

Platform Bridge Encryption

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Log Encryption

logging:
  encrypt: true
  encryption_key_path: ~/.openclaw/log.key
  redact_sensitive: true

With redact_sensitive: true, sensitive data is automatically replaced:

Before: [DEBUG] API request with key sk-abc123def456...
After:  [DEBUG] API request with key [REDACTED]...

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Full Encryption Setup

For maximum protection, enable all encryption options:

memory:
  encrypt_at_rest: true
  encryption_key_path: ~/.openclaw/memory.key

logging:
  encrypt: true
  redact_sensitive: true

security:
  tls:
    min_version: "1.2"
    verify_certificates: true
  require_https: true

webhooks:
  security:
    require_https: true

Combine with a local model for zero-cloud encryption:

provider: ollama
model: llama3

With this configuration, no data ever leaves your machine unencrypted.

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Verifying Encryption

openclaw security verify

Output:

Encryption Verification:
  Memory at rest:    ✔ AES-256-GCM
  Logs at rest:      ✔ AES-256-GCM
  API transport:     ✔ TLS 1.3
  Webhook transport: ✔ TLS 1.2
  Key rotation:      ⚠ Key is 45 days old (rotate recommended)
  Certificate:       ✔ Valid (expires in 280 days)

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Tips

• Always back up encryption keys in a separate secure location.
• Rotate keys quarterly with openclaw security rotate-key.
• Use a local model for the most sensitive conversations.
• Enable log redaction to prevent accidental sensitive data exposure.
• Monitor certificate expiry to avoid service interruptions.
• Test encryption recovery by restoring from a backup periodically.

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Troubleshooting