AI Agent Security Checklist: 7 Things to Verify Before Installing

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Why Security Matters More Than Ever

AI agents are not regular software. They don't just sit on your computer — they interact with your data, your accounts, and your systems. A compromised agent can:

• Exfiltrate sensitive customer data
• Send emails on your behalf
• Modify or delete files
• Install additional malicious software
• Access connected APIs and services

The stakes are high. Here's how to protect yourself.

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The 7-Point Checklist

1. Verify the Developer's Identity

What to check:

• Is the developer's real identity public?
• Do they have a verifiable track record?
• Can you find them on LinkedIn, GitHub, or a company website?
• Is there a way to contact them?

Red flags:

• Anonymous developers with no history
• Newly created accounts with no other projects
• No contact information or company affiliation

How EasyClaw handles this: Every developer on EasyClaw goes through identity verification. We confirm real names, company affiliations, and professional history before listing any agent.

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2. Check for a Security Audit

What to check:

• Has the agent undergone a third-party security audit?
• Is the audit report available?
• When was the last audit conducted?

What a security audit covers:

• Static code analysis for known vulnerabilities
• Dynamic testing in a sandboxed environment
• Network traffic analysis (does it call unexpected endpoints?)
• Permission analysis (does it request more access than needed?)

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3. Review Requested Permissions

What to check:

• What data does the agent access?
• What APIs does it connect to?
• Does it need internet access?
• Can it read/write files on your system?
• Does it request admin/root privileges?

The Principle of Least Privilege: An agent should only have the minimum permissions needed to do its job. An email agent needs email access — it does not need access to your file system. A code review agent needs repository access — it does not need your email credentials.

| Permission | Email Agent | Code Agent | Support Agent | |-----------|-------------|------------|---------------| | Email access | Needed | Not needed | Needed | | File system | Not needed | Needed | Not needed | | Internet | Needed | Limited | Needed | | Database | Not needed | Not needed | Needed | | Admin/root | Never | Never | Never |

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4. Inspect the Source Code (If Available)

What to look for:

• Obfuscated code — If the code is deliberately made unreadable, that's a red flag
• Hardcoded URLs — Especially to unknown domains
• Eval statements — Code that executes arbitrary strings
• Excessive dependencies — More packages means more attack surface
• Data exfiltration patterns — Sending data to external servers without clear purpose

Safe patterns:

# Good: Clear, readable, purpose-driven
response = llm.complete(prompt)
result = process_response(response)
return result

Dangerous patterns:

# Bad: Obfuscated, executes arbitrary code
import base64
exec(base64.b64decode(encoded_payload))

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5. Test in an Isolated Environment

Before running any agent on your real systems:

1. Use a virtual machine or container — Docker, VirtualBox, or a cloud sandbox
2. Disable network access initially — See if the agent tries to phone home
3. Monitor file system changes — Watch what files it creates, modifies, or deletes
4. Check network traffic — Use tools like Wireshark to see where data goes
5. Use test data, never real data — Until you've verified the agent is safe

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6. Check Update and Maintenance History

What to check:

• When was the agent last updated?
• Is there a regular update schedule?
• Are security patches applied promptly?
• Is there a changelog documenting what changed?

Why this matters: An agent that hasn't been updated in 6+ months may have unpatched vulnerabilities. Conversely, sudden unexplained updates (especially right after a security report) warrant extra scrutiny.

| Update Frequency | Risk Level | |-----------------|------------| | Weekly/monthly | Low — actively maintained | | Quarterly | Moderate — check changelogs | | 6+ months stale | High — may have unpatched vulnerabilities | | Never updated | Critical — avoid entirely |

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7. Verify Data Handling Policies

What to check:

• Where does your data go?
• Is data encrypted in transit and at rest?
• Does the agent store data locally or in the cloud?
• Is there a clear privacy policy?
• Can you delete your data?
• Is the agent compliant with GDPR, SOC 2, or other relevant standards?

Key questions to ask:

• Does the agent send my data to third-party LLM providers?
• Are API calls encrypted with TLS?
• Is any data retained after processing?
• Can I run the agent entirely offline?

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Quick Reference Checklist

Use this before installing any AI agent:

• [ ] Developer identity — Verified and reputable?
• [ ] Security audit — Conducted and report available?
• [ ] Permissions — Minimal and appropriate?
• [ ] Source code — Inspectable and clean?
• [ ] Sandbox test — Passed isolated testing?
• [ ] Updates — Actively maintained?
• [ ] Data handling — Clear policies and encryption?

If any answer is "no" or "unclear," proceed with extreme caution — or don't proceed at all.

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Why Verified Marketplaces Matter

Running through this checklist for every agent is time-consuming. That's why verified marketplaces exist. On EasyClaw, every agent goes through all seven checks before it's listed:

1. Developer identity is verified
2. Code undergoes static and dynamic security analysis
3. Permissions are reviewed and documented
4. Source code is inspected by security engineers
5. Agents are tested in sandboxed environments
6. Update schedules are monitored
7. Data handling policies are reviewed and enforced

This means when you install an agent from EasyClaw, the security work has already been done for you.

"

12% of agents on open registries contained malware. The risk is not theoretical — it's happening right now.

"

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What to Do If You've Already Installed an Unverified Agent

If you've previously installed agents without vetting them:

1. Audit immediately — Run through this checklist for every installed agent
2. Check for unusual activity — Unexpected network traffic, file changes, or account access
3. Rotate credentials — Change passwords for any accounts the agent had access to
4. Update your security tools — Make sure antivirus and firewalls are current
5. Consider replacing — Swap unverified agents for verified alternatives

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Stay Safe Out There

AI agents are powerful tools. But power without security is a liability. Take the time to verify before you install, and you'll avoid the costly mistakes that catch unprepared businesses off guard.

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Last updated: February 21, 2026