Simulate a key press with optional modifiers. Accepts a key combo string like
Part of the Mac Use server.
Free to start. No card required.
AI agents use press_key to create or modify resources in Mac Use. Write operations carry medium risk because an autonomous agent could trigger bulk unintended modifications. Rate limits prevent a single agent session from making hundreds of changes in rapid succession. Argument validation ensures the agent passes expected values.
Without a policy, an AI agent could call press_key repeatedly, creating or modifying resources faster than any human could review. PolicyLayer's rate limiting ensures write operations happen at a controlled pace, and argument validation catches malformed or unexpected inputs before they reach Mac Use.
Write tools can modify data. A rate limit prevents runaway bulk operations from AI agents.
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"press_key": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "press_key_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}See the full Mac Use policy for all 17 tools.
These attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access press_key gives an agent. Each links to the full case and the policy that stops it:
Other write tools across the catalogue. The same approach applies to each: rate-limit and validate the arguments.
Simulate a key press with optional modifiers. Accepts a key combo string like. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Mac Use MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Mac Use MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for press_key: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Mac Use. Nothing to install.
press_key is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the press_key rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for press_key. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
press_key is provided by the Mac Use MCP server (mac-use-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 17 Mac Use tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
Free to start. No card required.
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