Is ChatGPT safe to use? Security risks explained

Generative AI (Artificial Intelligence) solutions like ChatGPT by OpenAI have become an everyday tool for hundreds of millions of people around the globe. With reliance on AI growing exponentially, it is more important than ever to consider the safety and potential security risks of such tools.

ChatGPT is currently the most popular chatbot used for daily personal and work tasks. But can you trust it, and is it safe to use? Let’s take a closer look at ChatGPT’s security risks and measures and how to stay safe while using it.

Is ChatGPT safe?

ChatGPT has multiple built-in security features and is generally considered safe to use. However, there might be some privacy concerns, and just like any other online tool, it is not immune to cyberthreats.

As a ChatGPT user, you should practice good digital hygiene, stay informed about potential AI-associated risks, and take precautions to protect yourself online.

ChatGPT security measures for your protection

First, let’s see what ChatGPT does to protect its users.

On their website, OpenAI claims to be committed to user safety, privacy, and trust. Here are some of the steps that were taken to make ChatGPT a more secure platform:

• Encryption: to reduce interception and prevent unauthorized access, OpenAI uses secure protocols to encrypt your data in transit;
• Audits and monitoring: ChatGPT is regularly audited and assessed internally and by third-party auditing companies to identify vulnerabilities and improve security practices;
• Bug Bounty Program: OpenAI’s Bug Bounty Program encourages external security researchers to identify and disclose vulnerabilities. It helps with discovering and eliminating various security flaws;
• Transparency policies: to ensure transparency in its security practices, OpenAI regularly publishes updates and findings, sharing key information about security efforts. This encourages accountability, trust, and open dialogue with users;
• Compliance measures: to protect users’ data and ensure their right to privacy, OpenAI complies with data protection laws like GDPR and CCPA. Additionally, strict terms of service help prevent misuse of ChatGPT;
• Safety filters: OpenAI also has strict content guidelines and applies safety filters that detect and prevent the generation of harmful, inappropriate, illegal, or biased responses.

These security measures help make ChatGPT a more secure and responsible platform for its users.

ChatGPT security risks

While OpenAI has a pretty strong user security approach and ChatGPT is generally safe, there still are some potential privacy and security risks. Some of them, like social engineering, might not even be directly posed by using the chatbot but rather by it being used as a malicious tool. Here are some of the ChatGPT security concerns:

1. Privacy concerns

OpenAI has multiple security approaches implemented to protect user data, does not sell it, and complies with privacy laws. That being said, ChatGPT retains your chat history for at least 30 days and can use your input information to “provide, maintain, develop, and improve” its services.

That’s why you should not include your private data and confidential information in your conversations with ChatGPT. Even if you opt out from participating in the ChatGPT model training, all details you provide in your prompts might get exposed — in case of a data security failure, such as a data breach, malicious actors could potentially get access to that sensitive information.

2. Data breaches

You can have a simple chat with ChatGPT without registering and logging in. However, to use more advanced features, such as the voice mode, Reason, or upload a file, you have to create an OpenAI account. To register on the platform, you need to provide your full name, email address, and date of birth. Signing up for an upgraded ChatGPT version also requires your payment details.

As per OpenAI Privacy Policy, the service collects:

• Your account information;
• User content, including “prompts and other content you upload, such as files⁠, images, and audio⁠;”
• Personal data you may share during communications with the service via email or on social media;
• Other information you may provide while participating in events or surveys;
• Log data, usage data, device information, location information, cookies, etc.

The Privacy Policy also states that OpenAI can disclose your personal data to vendors and service providers, government authorities and other third parties “in compliance with the law,” affiliates, business account administrators, and more.

Having all this sensitive information collected and stored can potentially put it at risk of being exposed in case of a data breach. However, such risk exists with pretty much any online service — how big or small the risk depends on how well the company protects itself against hacking.

3. Misinformation and fake news

Misinformation and the spreading of fake news have been a problem for, if I had to guess, as long as human civilization has existed. However, with the internet becoming more and more accessible globally, it’s become a serious issue in recent years. People are able to publish whatever they wish online, true and false — from forums to social media and even full-blown websites dedicated to disinformation.

AI tools like ChatGPT are trained with enormous amounts of data that, unfortunately, may include inaccurate and maliciously incorrect information. At the same time, people’s trust in generative AI is growing, with many starting to use ChatGPT as a replacement for search engines. You can hear people googling something less and asking ChatGPT more often.

The problem here is that people may regard ChatGPT’s responses as a reliable source of information when, in reality, they might be based on outdated or false publications online. The chatbot itself has a disclaimer stating that “ChatGPT can make mistakes. Check important info.” So, it’s crucial to always do your own research and double-check the information ChatGPT provides.

4. Phishing scams

Phishing has been one of the biggest threats online for a while now and doesn’t seem to stop anytime soon. You may wonder, if it’s such a big prevailing problem, surely there have been efforts made to put an end to it, right? Yes, but — there is no 100% protection from social engineering tactics, as they rely on human psychology and error.

Before generative AI, phishing scams were easier to identify as long as you knew what to look for — spelling mistakes, bad grammar, and odd phrasing or style would be the dead giveaways of many phishing emails or text messages.

Now, however, highly advanced AI tools, especially those with readily available free versions like ChatGPT, have made it extra easy for scammers. With a single prompt, they can generate perfect text in a language of their choice, imitate the style of any company or service they want to impersonate, and create hundreds of believable phishing messages in a matter of minutes.

Additionally, OpenAI technology can be used to create convincing fake customer service chatbots to further trick people into believing the legitimacy of the phishing attempt.

5. Malware creation

ChatGPT can do way more than just chat. Apart from writing elaborate texts, it can also produce hundreds of lines of code that would take even an experienced programmer hours to write in mere seconds. It’s an excellent time-saving tool, but it could potentially be used for malicious purposes.

While ChatGPT has preventative measures in place to block the attempts to generate malicious code and create malware, hackers with enough knowledge and experience might try to manipulate the chatbot and bypass these restrictions.

6. Fake ChatGPT applications

Cybercriminals often try to trick people into revealing sensitive data or scam them out of money by pretending to be a legitimate service. Considering its popularity, ChatGPT is no exception — there have been multiple instances of fake ChatGPT apps appearing in app stores. Since then, scam apps seem to have been removed from official stores; however, some risks still remain.

You may come across phishing messages on social media or email, promoting ChatGPT services. In reality, the link could take you to a malicious website or download a fake ChatGPT app, which might inject your devices with malware or steal your login credentials and other sensitive information. This could lead to dire consequences like financial loss or identity theft.

How to stay safe while using ChatGPT

To improve your security while using ChatGPT, you can take these steps:

1. Avoid sharing sensitive data

You should always exercise caution and share as little of your personal data online as possible, and ChatGPT is no exception. In your prompts, avoid sharing any confidential data, financial details, and other personal information that could potentially put you or your workplace at risk if it ever got exposed to third parties.

2. Review privacy policies and settings

Familiarize yourself with OpenAI’s Privacy Policy, Terms of Use, Security, and other policies. This way, you’ll know what happens with your data and will be more aware of what you’re sharing with the chatbot.

Additionally, go to your ChatGPT account settings and adjust them according to your preferences. For example, turning off Memory or Improve the model for everyone settings might help limit your data exposure.

3. Use strong passwords

Set up strong, unique passwords for all your accounts, including ChatGPT, and change them periodically. Having a strong password of at least eight characters (including lower and uppercase letters, numbers, and symbols) minimizes the risk of a successful brute-force attack. Not reusing your passwords helps protect your accounts in case one gets compromised.

4. Use antivirus software

While using the official chatbot shouldn’t infect your devices with any malware, you may come across threats while browsing online during or after your conversations with ChatGPT, accidentally clicking on a phishing link, or downloading a convincing fake app. That’s why  having a good antivirus installed on your devices is a must.

5. Stay informed about security threats

The most powerful tool against cybersecurity threats is your knowledge. Educate yourself and stay informed about artificial intelligence, its security, related threats, and trends. This knowledge will help you navigate the AI world more safely and avoid potential risks.

6. Use anonymous accounts

For an added layer of security and privacy, consider using a temporary or an anonymous account for your interactions with ChatGPT. You can use services like Alternative ID to create an online alias and provide these details when signing up for a free ChatGPT version.

7. Use a VPN for extra security

No matter how careful and discreet you are while using ChatGPT, simply being online poses some risks. To safeguard your online connection and improve your privacy, you can use a VPN (Virtual Private Network). Services like Surfshark VPN encrypt your online activity, making it virtually impossible to intercept and preventing third parties from tracking it.

Bottom line: ChatGPT safety is in your hands

ChatGPT is a powerful generative AI chatbot that is generally safe to use, but it’s not completely risk-free. However, it’s up to you to minimize the risks related to this tool — educate yourself about the potential threats, use the recommended security practices, and enjoy the benefits of ChatGPT without compromising your safety and privacy.

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