How can I securely deploy OpenClaw on a VPS and protect it from prompt injection?

For a secure OpenClaw deployment on a VPS, start with a hardened host and a contained run that's isolated from the public internet. As Ed explains, running OpenClaw on a VPS (for example, a Hostinger KVM2 with about 8 GB RAM and 100 GB NVMe) provides a safer sandbox than a personal machine, and you should harden SSH by disabling root login, turning off password auth, and using a separate non-root user with SSH keys. Network security is critical: use TailScale to create a private mesh so only approved devices can SSH, and configure firewall rules to block public ports while exposing SSH only through TailScale. If you’re using Docker for OpenClaw, bind containers to localhost (127.0.0.1) and adjust docker-compose.yaml so external traffic can’t reach OpenClaw services directly, reducing the attack surface. Be mindful of the built-in “skills” (GitHub, Telegram bots, etc.): Ed cautions that capabilities can enable dangerous commands if enabled unchecked, so vet and disable risky skills before turning them on. NetworkChuck complements this by emphasizing that prompt injection is a major risk—treat OpenClaw as a gateway rather than a standalone AI, carefully manage profiles, memory, redlines, and per-agent permissions, and plan firewalls, SSH tunneling, and clawhub vetting as part of a hardening strategy. In short, combine a private-network setup (TailScale), minimal exposure (localhost bindings), strict SSH access, and prudent enablement of features to keep a VPS-hosted OpenClaw secure and controllable.

• "Ed" points out that a VPS with 8 GB RAM and 100 GB NVMe is a balanced, contained environment for experimenting, and emphasizes SSH hardening (non-root user, key-based auth).
• As NetworkChuck notes, OpenClaw is a gateway harness, not an AI itself, so you must manage profiles, memory, redlines, and permissions to prevent misuse and prompt injection.
• Ed highlights using TailScale to create a private mesh so only approved devices can SSH, complemented by firewall rules that block public ports and expose SSH only through TailScale.
• Ed demonstrates Docker security posture by binding OpenClaw containers to localhost (127.0.0.1) to prevent external access unless explicitly opened.
• NetworkChuck warns about prompt injection and malware in skills, urging careful vetting and disabling untrusted or risky capabilities before enabling them.