The #1 AI Plugin on ClawHub Was Secretly Stealing Passwords — Hundreds of Devs Got Wrecked
The #1 AI Plugin on ClawHub Was Secretly Stealing Passwords — Hundreds of Devs Got WreckedYou downloaded an AI tool to work smarter. It downloaded everything on your computer to a hacker’s server.
Wait, What Actually Happened?
Someone created a fake “Twitter helper” plugin for OpenClaw (an AI assistant platform). It became the most downloaded plugin on their store.
Plot twist: it was a trap.
When you installed it, you thought you were getting a cool AI feature. Instead, it quietly:
- Grabbed all your saved passwords from your browser
- Copied your login sessions (so hackers could log in AS you)
- Stole your developer keys (the secret codes that connect to servers)
- Took your cloud logins (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
- Snagged your SSH keys (basically master keys to servers)
This wasn’t one shady plugin. Security researchers found hundreds of plugins doing the same thing. Coordinated attack.
“But I Don’t Code — Why Should I Care?”
Here’s the thing: if you’ve EVER installed any AI tool, browser extension, or “helpful” plugin from anywhere except the official app store… you might have the same problem.
This attack specifically targeted Mac users. The malware knew how to sneak past Mac’s built-in protection.
The scary part: The people who install AI tools are usually the people with access to important stuff. Company code. Client data. Production servers. That’s why hackers targeted this specific store.
🔍 How The Attack Actually Worked (Plain English)
Step 1: You find a plugin called “Twitter” that promises to help your AI assistant post tweets or analyze your timeline.
Step 2: The install instructions say “run this command in your terminal.” Seems normal — lots of dev tools work this way.
Step 3: That command secretly downloads hidden code. Think of it like a trojan horse — looks like a regular install, but there’s an army hiding inside.
Step 4: The hidden code disables your Mac’s security warnings. Normally your Mac says “hey, this file came from the internet, you sure?” — the malware turns that off.
Step 5: Now running silently in the background, it starts copying:
- Every password saved in Chrome/Safari/Firefox
- Your active login sessions (no password needed — they just clone your logged-in state)
- Files in common locations where developers store secret keys
- Your SSH folder (the keys that let you into servers without passwords)
Step 6: All of this gets sent to the attacker’s server. They now have everything needed to:
- Log into your accounts
- Access your company’s servers
- Steal money from connected payment systems
- Read private messages
- Impersonate you
The malware was confirmed as legit dangerous by VirusTotal (a tool that checks files against 70+ antivirus programs).
Affected? Here’s Your Emergency Checklist
Do this NOW if you ever installed OpenClaw plugins:
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Change every password. Start with email, then bank, then everything else.
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Regenerate your SSH keys. If you don’t know what these are, you probably don’t have them — skip this.
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Revoke and regenerate API keys. Any developer tokens, cloud credentials, service accounts.
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Log out everywhere. Most services have a “log out all devices” option. Use it.
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Enable 2FA on everything. Even if they have your password, they can’t get in without your phone.
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Check your bank statements. Look for anything weird in the last 30 days.
💰 7 Ways People Are Making Money From This Mess
Chaos creates opportunity. Here’s what smart people are already doing:
1. Emergency Password Reset Service
Companies who used OpenClaw need help rotating ALL their credentials fast. Charge by the hour or by the system.
A freelancer in Poland started offering “AI Tool Security Audits” after the LastPass breach — now charges €150/hour with a 3-week waitlist.
2. “Clean Machine” Setup Guides
Developers are now paranoid. Sell guides for setting up isolated environments — separate computers or virtual machines for sketchy tools.
3. AI Tool Review Newsletter
Start reviewing AI plugins BEFORE people install them. Become the trust layer everyone’s missing.
4. Compromised Tools Database
Track which AI tools got hacked, when, and what they stole. Sell access to companies for compliance.
5. “Test It For Me” Sandbox Service
Buy cheap cloud servers, let people test sketchy software safely. $5 server cost, charge $20 per test.
6. Breach Recovery Freelancing
Someone got owned? They need help NOW. List “malware recovery specialist” on Upwork.
7. Incident Report Consulting
Write a detailed PDF about this specific attack. Send it to companies using OpenClaw. Free report = leads, consulting = cash.
The 60-Second Version
A fake AI plugin became the most popular download on ClawHub. It was actually malware stealing passwords, login sessions, and developer keys from Mac users. Hundreds of plugins were part of the same attack.
If you installed OpenClaw plugins: Change all passwords. Regenerate all keys. Log out everywhere. Do it today.
If you didn’t: Stop installing random AI tools from random websites. The people making them know you have valuable access to things.
Source: 1Password Security Blog
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