ClawHub Best Practices

Safe and Effective Skill Management for OpenClaw After ClawHavoc

⚠️ Post-ClawHavoc Security Advisory

In February 2026, 341 malicious skills were discovered on ClawHub containing Atomic Stealer malware. This guide provides updated best practices for safe skill management in the post-ClawHavoc era.

Security Best Practices

Before Installing Skills

Review skill description and documentation thoroughly
Check author reputation and verification status
Read community comments and ratings carefully
Verify star count and download statistics
Check when the skill was last updated
Review required permissions carefully
Search for security discussions about the skill
Prefer skills with high star ratings and download counts

After ClawHavoc Incident

Exercise extra caution with newly published skills
Avoid skills with suspicious permission requests
Report any unusual behavior immediately to ClawHub
Keep all skills updated with latest security patches
Review ClawHub Security Guide regularly
Monitor ClawHub security announcements and alerts
Be aware of the 3-report auto-hide system
Trust the enhanced automated malware scanning

💡 Community Reporting System

ClawHub now features an enhanced reporting system where 3 independent reports automatically hide a skill pending moderation review. This community-driven approach helps protect all users.

Installation Best Practices

Version Management

Pin specific versions in production environments
Use semantic versioning ranges carefully (^1.2.0 vs ~1.2.0)
Test skill updates in development environment first
Document installed skill versions in your project
Review changelogs before updating to new versions
Keep production and development versions synchronized

# Pin exact version for production
openclaw skill install [email protected]

# Use version range for development
openclaw skill install github-integration@^2.1.0

# Always review changes first
openclaw skill changelog github-integration

Dependency Management

Understand the full dependency tree before installing
Keep dependencies minimal and necessary
Audit dependencies regularly for security issues
Remove unused dependencies promptly
Watch for dependency conflicts and resolve quickly
Document why each dependency is needed

# Check dependencies before installing

openclaw skill deps github-integration

# Clean up unused dependencies

openclaw skill prune

# Audit all dependencies

openclaw skill audit

Skill Organization

Project Structure

Organize skills by category or function
Document why each skill is installed
Keep skill.json configuration file updated
Use skill groups for different projects
Remove skills that are no longer needed
Maintain a skills inventory document

Performance Optimization

Don't install unnecessary or redundant skills
Monitor OpenClaw agent performance regularly
Uninstall conflicting or duplicate skills
Prefer lightweight skill alternatives when available
Benchmark skill impact on system resources
Consider skill loading time and memory usage

Development Best Practices

Testing Skills

Test skills in isolated development environment first
Verify skill functionality thoroughly before production use
Check for conflicts with existing skills
Test with different OpenClaw agent versions
Document all test results and findings
Create test scenarios for critical skills

Publishing Skills

If you're publishing your own skills to ClawHub:

Follow SKILL.md specification exactly
Include comprehensive and clear documentation
Test thoroughly before publishing
Use semantic versioning correctly
Provide clear installation instructions
Include security considerations in documentation
Respond promptly to community feedback
Update skills regularly with bug fixes and improvements

💡 Publishing Requirements

To publish skills on ClawHub, you need a GitHub account at least one week old. Skills undergo enhanced security review (2-5 business days) including automated malware scanning.

Community Engagement

Contributing to ClawHub

Star useful skills to help others discover quality tools
Leave helpful comments and constructive reviews
Report bugs and security issues responsibly
Contribute to skill documentation improvements
Share your own skills with the community (3,286 already available)
Help new users in community forums and discussions

Reporting Issues

Report suspicious skills immediately using the report button
Provide detailed bug reports with reproduction steps
Include your environment details in reports
Document the issue thoroughly before reporting
Follow up on your reports to provide additional information
Use responsible disclosure for security vulnerabilities

⚠️ Security Reporting

For critical security issues, report directly to the ClawHub security team. Remember: 3 independent reports automatically hide a skill pending review.

Maintenance Best Practices

Regular Audit Schedule

📅 Monthly

Review all installed skills and remove unused ones
Check for available skill updates
Remove skills that are no longer maintained
Verify skills are still functioning correctly

📅 Quarterly

Complete security audit of all installed skills
Performance review and optimization
Review dependency tree for issues
Update documentation and skill inventory

📅 Yearly

Major cleanup and reorganization of skills
Comprehensive security assessment
Review and update skill management policies
Evaluate new skills and alternatives

Update Strategy

Subscribe to ClawHub security announcements and mailing lists
Update critical security patches immediately
Test non-critical updates in development environment first
Schedule regular maintenance windows for updates
Keep rollback strategy ready in case of issues
Document update history and any issues encountered

# Check for outdated skills

openclaw skill outdated

# Update critical security patches immediately

openclaw skill update [skill-name]

# Update all skills (test environment only)

openclaw skill update --all

Backup and Recovery

Backup Strategy

Export skill.json configuration regularly
Document custom skill configurations and settings
Keep a list of all installed skills with versions
Backup skill data if applicable to your use case
Test restore procedures periodically
Store backups in multiple secure locations

Recovery Planning

Know how to quickly uninstall problematic skills
Have rollback plan for failed updates
Document emergency procedures for security incidents
Keep ClawHub support contact information accessible
Maintain alternative solutions for critical skills
Test recovery procedures before you need them

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Installing skills without reading documentation first
Ignoring security warnings or community red flags
Using outdated skills with known vulnerabilities
Installing too many similar or redundant skills
Not testing skills before production deployment
Ignoring community feedback and reported issues
Skipping security reviews and audits
Not keeping skill.json configuration updated
Failing to monitor ClawHub security announcements
Installing skills from unverified or suspicious authors

⚠️ Critical Reminder

After the ClawHavoc incident where 341 malicious skills were discovered, NEVER skip security reviews. Always verify skill sources, check community feedback, and prefer skills with high star ratings from trusted authors.

Essential Resources

📚 Essential Reading

🔗 Community Resources

GitHub Repository
Awesome Skills Collection
OpenClaw Discord Community
ClawHub Forums

🛡️ Security Resources

ClawHub Security Mailing List
Security Announcements Feed
Incident Response Guidelines
Vulnerability Reporting

🎓 Learning Resources

Installation Guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Skill Development Tutorial
OpenClaw Agent Documentation

Checklist for Safe Skill Usage

Pre-Installation Checklist

Read skill documentation completely
Check author reputation and history
Review community feedback and ratings
Verify security status (no reported issues)
Check OpenClaw version compatibility
Review required permissions and dependencies

Post-Installation Checklist

Test skill functionality in safe environment
Monitor performance and resource usage
Watch for unusual or suspicious behavior
Document installation details and version
Update skill.json configuration file
Add to skills inventory and maintenance schedule

Ongoing Maintenance Checklist

Conduct regular security audits (quarterly minimum)
Keep skills updated with latest versions
Monitor ClawHub announcements and security alerts
Participate in community discussions
Report issues and contribute feedback promptly
Review and update maintenance procedures