AI agents invoke restart_computer to trigger actions in Computer Use. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call — builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.
Restarting a computer is an Execute-class action: it runs an external operation (OS restart command) whose effects depend on system state. While restarts are theoretically reversible (the system comes back online), the action itself immediately disrupts running processes, services, and workflows, causing service interruptions and potential data loss if unsaved work exists.
From the tool's definition Tool name is 'restart_computer' and description states 'Restart the virtual computer.' This directly triggers a system-level operation (restart) that has immediate, externally observable effects.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access restart_computer gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Computer Use, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for restart_computer:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"restart_computer": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "restart_computer_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 10,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}restart_computer stays usable, but rate-capped — a runaway agent can't fire it dozens of times a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Restart the virtual computer. It is categorised as a Execute tool in the Computer Use MCP Server, which means it can trigger actions or run processes. Use rate limits and argument validation.
Register the Computer Use MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for restart_computer: 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 Computer Use. Nothing to install.
restart_computer is a Execute tool with high risk. Execute tools should be rate-limited and have argument validation enabled.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the restart_computer 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 restart_computer. 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.
restart_computer is provided by the Computer Use MCP server (spencerkinney/computer-use-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Computer Use, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
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15 Computer Use tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.