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Questions
- Is Claude Code safe to use on my computer?
- Can Claude Code change or delete files anywhere on my machine?
- Does Claude Code run commands on its own without asking me?
- Do my files or code get sent to the cloud when I use Claude Code?
- What is the working directory, and why does it matter for safety?
- Is my Bowdoin work private, and is it used to train the AI?
- What is a sandbox, and do I need to turn it on?
- How do I stay in control if I am not very technical?
Environment
This article is for Bowdoin community members using Claude Code on a Bowdoin-managed Claude account. Claude Code runs in a terminal, but you do not need programming experience to understand how it protects your work.
- Who: Students, faculty, and staff who have been granted access to the Claude tools.
- What: Claude Code running locally on a current version of macOS or on Windows 11, on a Bowdoin Team or Enterprise plan.
- Not in scope: Claude Cowork safety, which is covered in Is Cowork Safe? Security and Your Files Explained in the Related Articles section.
Resolution
The short version: Claude Code works only inside the folder you open it in. It can look but not touch by default, and it asks permission before changing files or running commands. Your work stays on your computer, and your Bowdoin data is not used to train the AI.
It stays in the folder you open
Claude Code has a clear boundary called the working directory, which is simply the folder you start it in. Claude Code can create and change files inside that folder and its subfolders. Claude Code cannot change files in folders above the working directory without asking you first, and it asks before reading files that live outside the working directory. If you open Claude Code in a folder called my-project, it cannot wander off and modify your system files or your other documents.
Look first, act with permission
By default, Claude Code has read-only permissions. Claude Code can look at your files to understand them, but the moment it wants to edit a file, run a command, or install something, it stops and asks you.
- Safe, read-only commands (such as listing files or checking status) run without interrupting you.
- Anything that changes your system prompts you first. You choose Allow once or allow it automatically going forward.
- Commands that reach out to the internet (such as downloading a file) are not auto-approved. They ask every time by default.
You are the reviewer. Claude Code only has the permissions you grant. Read what it proposes before you approve, especially for commands you do not recognize. When in doubt, deny the step and ask Claude to explain it.
Does my code leave my computer?
When you run Claude Code on your own machine, your files and the changes it makes stay local. Claude sends your requests to Anthropic to reason about them, but the file changes happen on your computer, in your folder. A separate "Claude Code on the web" option runs in the cloud with its own protections, but this article is about running Claude Code locally, which is the typical starting point.
What is a sandbox, and do I need it?
Note: A sandbox is an optional extra fence you can turn on that lets Claude Code work more freely inside safe boundaries while blocking it from the rest of your system and the wider internet. It means fewer permission prompts and more safety. You do not have to set it up to be safe. The default permission prompts already protect you, and the sandbox is a convenience for people who use Claude Code a lot.
Trust check on first use
The first time you run Claude Code in a new folder, it asks you to confirm that you trust that folder before it does anything. New tools you connect also require a trust confirmation. This is a deliberate speed bump so nothing runs in an unfamiliar place without your approval.
Is my Bowdoin work private?
Yes. On Bowdoin's managed (Work) plan, your prompts, files, and Claude's outputs are not used to train Claude's models. Your login credentials are stored securely by your operating system. For the full data picture, see Data privacy on your Bowdoin-managed Claude account in the Related Articles section.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
Additional Resources
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.