Back to Guides

Understanding Safety Ratings

OpenClaw Team
·

Understanding Safety Ratings

Safety ratings are a core feature of the ClawSkills ecosystem. They help you make informed decisions about which skills to install.

The Rating Scale

Our 5-point rating system evaluates the risk level of each skill:

Rating 5 - Minimal Risk

Skills that only read data and have no external network access. Examples: file analyzers, code formatters.

Rating 4 - Low Risk

Skills that need minimal permissions like reading specific files or accessing specific APIs. Examples: email composers, document generators.

Rating 3 - Moderate Risk

Skills that require access to external services or modify local files. Examples: expense trackers, social media tools.

Rating 2 - Elevated Risk

Skills that need significant system permissions or access sensitive data. Always review carefully before installing.

Rating 1 - High Risk

Skills that require full system access. Only install from trusted authors.

How Ratings are Calculated

Ratings are determined by analyzing:

  1. Permission scope - What the skill can access
  2. Network activity - External connections made
  3. Data sensitivity - Type of data processed
  4. System impact - Changes made to the system

Best Practices

  • Always check the safety rating before installing
  • Prefer skills with rating 4-5 when possible
  • Review the source code for skills rated 1-2
  • Keep skills updated for security patches