A new report from Group-IB, a global cybersecurity firm, has raised concerns for ChatGPT users around the globe. The company’s threat intelligence platform has revealed that approximately 101,134 devices that use ChatGPT have been infected with info-stealing malware, with the credentials of these users compromised in the process. These credentials were logged on illicit dark web marketplaces over the past year, with an alarming increase in logs of compromised accounts being reported in May 2023, with 26,802 available logs having been recorded.
The report highlighted that the Asia-Pacific region has suffered the most concerning impact from the malevolent malware, with India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Indonesia contributing an astounding 12,632 instances of broken security.
The ability to offer ChatGPT credentials on the dark web market has been made possible by the increasing number of reliable info-stealing stealer malware, which have harvested account information, passwords, data, and files. Of note, Group-IB has identified the stealer malware Vizom as being the most frequently used in this regard, responsible for over 17,000 confiscated and illicitly-traded ChatGPT logs.
This report sends a powerful message to ChatGPT users, many of whom reside within the Asia-Pacific area. With so many credentials available for sale on the illegal dark web marketplaces, it’s essential that users take steps to secure their accounts and protect themselves from potential information theft. With this in mind, regularly updating password combinations and running modern security tools should be an essential part of any user’s online activity.
While it is worrying to consider the scale of security breaches and malware already wreaking havoc on the web, particularly as shown in the case of ChatGPT, there is still hope. By being diligent in one’s online activities and taking proactive steps to stay secure, it remains possible to remain safe and protected from the perils of web-based security breaches now and into the future.
