AI Agent Security Risk: Time Machine Backup Vulnerability

An AI agent running on a Mac can pose a security risk to Time Machine backups. One user discovered their agent, named Hermes, could potentially compromise all backups if its user account was breached. This is because the agent and backups were on the same account. To prevent this, the user locked their AI agent out of all Time Machine volumes, removing its ability to read, write, or delete. This process was challenging, leading to corrupt backups and requiring multiple attempts to get right. The solution involved specific root and admin settings, along with understanding the actual writer of the backup. This information is available to help others avoid similar issues. This matters because it highlights a critical security concern for anyone using AI agents with local backup systems.