As the world advances in technology and the ways in which we interact with it, cybercriminals have been quick to exploit new opportunities to distribute malicious content. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, such as ChatGPT, have become the latest method for unlawful actors to spread malware, scams, and spam. A research report from Meta’s security team which was released on May 1st, identified 10 malware families which had been utilising ChatGPT and similar AI tools to compromise user accounts online.
Meta explained how it can be assumed that these malicious actors have chosen to move to AI because its popularity is rapidly growing and its applications are seen as an attractive way to capture people’s imagination and excitement. The company found that these malicious actors have been creating malicious browser extensions masquerading as ChatGPT tools in official web stores to fool users. It also stated that some of the operations using ChatGPT also enabled the malware alongside it.
The findings of Meta’s research show the importance of staying vigilant when dealing with such services, as the value of AI is not just limited to the realm of commercial applications. Cyber criminals are always adapting and seeking new opportunities to exploit and so the continued development of digital security measures is important.
Meta itself is investing heavily in artificial intelligence, as AI is currently its largest investment. It is building a wide range of AI tools which are envisaged to be used to improve its augmented and virtual reality platforms. OpenAI, the team behind ChatGPT, has also launched its own bug bounty program with the purpose of combating any vulnerabilities within its system.
Meta’s chief security officer, Guy Rosen, has warned that ChatGPT is quickly becoming the new “crypto” for these malicious actors, showing how powerful AI can be in the wrong hands. As the potential of AI continues to be harnessed in both commercial and illegal activities, it is essential to be aware of the danger posed by bad actors.
