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Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the popularity of ChatGPT to spread malware with names based directly on the famous chatbot. After a first wave of dubious mobile applications, it's now web browser extensions that are causing concern among IT security specialists.
Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the popularity of ChatGPT to spread malware with names based directly on the famous chatbot. After a first wave of dubious mobile applications, it's now web browser extensions that are causing concern among IT security specialists.
ChatGPT is still inspiring hackers. Guardio Labs recently published an alert concerning the appearance of a particularly malicious extension for Chrome that pretends to integrate ChatGPT into the browser. It appears that this extension, called "Quick Access to ChatGPT," allows hackers to collect personal data from the Facebook accounts of its users. These same accounts apparently also become vectors for spreading malicious ads.
While this extension has now been removed from the Chrome Web Store, others may appear at any time. In any case, users are being urged not to install any extension claiming to be ChatGPT, whether for Chrome or any other browser. The chatbot's publisher, OpenAI, still does not offer any form of official mobile application or extension.
Beware also of suspicious mobile applications, which may also collect a wealth of personal data without the knowledge of their users. Their (misleading) names include TalkGPT, Chat GPT AI or Alfred-Chat with GPT 3. For want of an official mobile application, users can still access ChatGPT from their smartphone's web browser.
Generally speaking, any topical subject in the news can serve as inspiration to cybercriminals. Last year, several waves of computer viruses and online scams appeared following Russia's invasion of Ukraine, for example, or the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
See also: Watch out for fake ChatGPT apps!
