Meta, the owner of Facebook, has released a security report warning that hackers are exploiting the growing global interest in the artificial intelligence-powered tool ChatGPT. The report highlights that hackers are utilizing similar tactics to those used in cryptocurrency scams to break into people’s devices. Meta’s security team found that hackers are offering ChatGPT-based tools via browser extensions and online app stores that contain malware designed to give them access to people’s devices.
Guy Rosen, Meta’s chief information security officer, explained that, from a hacker’s perspective, ChatGPT is the new crypto. This means that scammers have quickly moved to exploit the interest in the technology. Since March alone, Meta has blocked over 1,000 malicious web addresses that claimed to be linked to ChatGPT or related tools. Some of these tools contain working ChatGPT features, but also include malicious code to infect users’ devices.
Meta has investigated and taken action against malware strains that are taking advantage of people’s interest in OpenAI’s ChatGPT. These strains trick people into installing malware pretending to provide AI functionality. Meta’s report emphasizes that malware operators and spammers try to latch onto hot-button issues and popular topics to get people’s attention. The ultimate goal is to trick people into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful software. The latest wave of malware campaigns has taken notice of generative AI tools becoming popular.
Overall, it is important for users to be cautious when downloading any software or extensions, especially those claiming to be related to popular technology like ChatGPT. It is essential to verify the source and ensure that the software is legitimate before installation. Meta also recommends using antivirus software and keeping it up to date to protect against any potential threats.
