Bootcamp graduates entering the job market are expected to use AI coding agents productively — but bootcamps rarely teach AI agent safety. Understanding how to constrain what an agent can do on your machine is a professional skill that separates job-ready developers from liability risks. SafeClaw by Authensor teaches you deny-by-default security thinking while actively protecting your development environment. Install with npx @authensor/safeclaw and start building safe habits from day one.

Why Bootcamp Grads Are Vulnerable

Bootcamp curricula focus on building features fast. AI agents accelerate that speed, which makes them attractive to new developers. But the risks are real:

• Limited command line experience — you may not recognize that an agent's shell command is dangerous
• Unfamiliar with security concepts — terms like "privilege escalation" and "data exfiltration" may be new
• Personal machine as dev environment — your laptop has personal files, browser saved passwords, SSH keys, and cloud credentials that agents can access
• Pressure to appear productive — new developers may give agents unrestricted access to avoid slowing down
• No prior incident experience — you have never recovered from a production outage or data breach, so the risks feel abstract

Your First SafeClaw Policy

This policy protects you while allowing normal development:

# safeclaw.yaml — bootcamp grad starter policy
version: 1
default: deny

rules:
  # Read source code
  - action: file_read
    path: "src/**"
    decision: allow
    reason: "Source code is readable"

- action: file_read
    path: "*.{json,md,yaml,yml}"
    decision: allow
    reason: "Config and docs are readable"

# Write code with review
  - action: file_write
    path: "src/**"
    decision: prompt
    reason: "Review what the agent writes"

- action: file_write
    path: "tests/**"
    decision: prompt
    reason: "Review generated tests"

# Protect your machine
  - action: file_read
    path: "~/.ssh/**"
    decision: deny
    reason: "SSH keys are private"

- action: file_read
    path: "~/.aws/**"
    decision: deny
    reason: "Cloud credentials are private"

- action: file_read
    path: "*/.env"
    decision: deny
    reason: "Environment files contain secrets"

# Shell safety
  - action: shell_execute
    command: "npm test"
    decision: allow
    reason: "Tests are safe"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "npm start"
    decision: allow
    reason: "Dev server is safe"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "npm install *"
    decision: prompt
    reason: "Review before installing packages"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "node *"
    decision: prompt
    reason: "Review before running scripts"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "sudo *"
    decision: deny
    reason: "Never give agents sudo"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "rm *"
    decision: deny
    reason: "No file deletion"

- action: shell_execute
    command: "curl *"
    decision: deny
    reason: "No outbound transfers"

- action: network_request
    destination: "*"
    decision: deny
    reason: "No network access"

What Each Rule Teaches You

Every rule in the policy maps to a security principle:

| Rule | Principle |
|------|-----------|
| default: deny | Deny-by-default: nothing is allowed unless explicitly permitted |
| file_read .env: deny | Secret management: credentials should never be accessible to untrusted processes |
| shell_execute sudo: deny | Least privilege: processes should not have more access than they need |
| shell_execute npm install: prompt | Supply chain security: dependencies are an attack vector |
| network_request: deny | Network segmentation: untrusted processes should not make outbound connections |
| file_write src: prompt | Code review: all changes should be reviewed before acceptance |

Making It a Portfolio Piece

Including a safeclaw.yaml in your portfolio projects demonstrates security awareness to hiring managers. It signals that you think about:

• What your tools can access


• How to constrain automated processes


• Why audit trails matter

Getting Started

npx @authensor/safeclaw

SafeClaw is MIT-licensed, free, and has zero dependencies. It works with both Claude and OpenAI agents. The 446-test suite ensures reliable behavior. The hash-chained audit log records everything your agent attempts, giving you a learning tool and a safety net simultaneously.

Related pages:

• AI Agent Security for Beginners
• AI Agent Safety for Students
• What Can AI Agents Do to My Computer?
• Deny-by-Default Explained