From Clawdbot to OpenClaw: This viral AI agent is evolving fast - and it's nightmare fuel for security pros

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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Clawdbot has rebranded again, completing its "molt" into OpenClaw.
• Security is a "top priority," but new exploits surfaced over the weekend.
• Experts warn against the hype without understanding the risks.

It's been a wild ride over the past week for Clawdbot, which has now revealed a new name -- while opening our eyes to how cybercrime may transform with the introduction of personalized AI assistants and chatbots.

Clawdbot, Moltbot, OpenClaw - what is it?

Dubbed the "AI that actually does things," Clawdbot began as an open source project launched by Austrian developer Peter Steinberger. The original name was a hat tip to Anthropic's Claude AI assistant, but this led to IP issues, and the AI system was renamed Moltbot.

Also: OpenClaw is a security nightmare - 5 red flags you shouldn't ignore ...