What is the difference between cloud environment and local environment?

Using your own computer locally

Hackcat Desktop or Local Agent connects your controlled computer to the Agent, suitable for using local files, installed tools, and networks accessible from the local machine. Commands execute with the permissions of the user who started the program, without container isolation, so it should run in an environment that complies with the task scope.

Connecting locally does not mean the model runs offline, nor does it remove account usage limits.

Using hosted environment in the cloud

The cloud Agent runs tools in a hosted isolated environment, with a different file system and network location from your local machine. It does not automatically have the software, paths, or login states from your computer. Cloud availability depends on the plan and current service; free Agents require selecting a connected local environment.

For example, if the target materials are only on a test computer, connect to that computer first; if you plan to run public tools in a clean environment, check whether the cloud meets your needs. Do not switch environments arbitrarily just to see different results; first record the differences in files and network conditions.

How to confirm before sending

Verify the selected computer name or cloud option in the task input area; when multiple connections exist, do not judge solely by “Connected.”

1. Determine which machine’s files and tools the task requires.
2. Check that the environment is online and the account is available.
3. Use a simple check first to confirm paths and environment before proceeding with the task.
4. Save any outputs you need to keep before deleting the cloud environment.

Learn about execution boundaries