ChatGPT, the OpenAI chatbot, is an AI model that can be used in a variety of ways such as writing text, creating music, and generating code. However, such powerful tools can also be used for malicious intentions. Cybercriminals can leverage ChatGPT to create malware that can steal your personal information such as credit card data or passwords and even access your banking account.
OpenAI continues to implement security measures to prevent malicious use cases of the AI chatbot. Examples of such measures are to reject requests asking ChatGPT to create malware, although cybercriminals often find ways to bypass such filtering methods. Cyber threats such as phishing scams can be boosted by the capabilities of ChatGPT to quickly generate large amounts of texts that are tailored to specific audiences. In such cases, malicious actors could create fake accounts on various chat platforms and contact users pretending to be a customer representative. By clicking on those websites, victims might be tricked into sharing personal information.
In order to protect yourself, it is recommended to be wary of emails that appear to be from legitimate sources and to visit your bank’s website directly instead of clicking on any embedded links. Additionally, it is vital to be aware of the potential risks of using AI chatbots and take the necessary measures to guard your sensitive data.
Check Point is an Israeli security company who found proofs of ChatGPT being used to build basic Infostealer malware and a multi-layer encryption tool that can encrypt files for a ransomware attack. Another example of this bot’s malicious use cases is the VBA code that could be implanted into a Microsoft Excel file and infect your PC if opened.
Michael Kearney, a professor of computer science at the University of Southern California, claims that Script Kiddies, a type of malicious actor, could use ChatGPT to rephrase prompts and generate code for malicious software. Examples of such software include keyboard spying tools.
In conclusion, it is important to be mindful of the security risks of using AI chatbot technology like the OpenAI ChatGPT and the measures needed to protect yourself.
