Meta Uncovers Malware Purveyors Exploiting ChatGPT, Warns Users of Malicious Apps!

Meta, Facebook's parent company, has recently cautioned users about malicious apps and browser extensions that take advantage of public interest in ChatGPT, a popular artificial intelligence-powered chatbot.

In a news release, the company claims it has discovered approximately ten malware families and over 1,000 malicious links posing as tools containing ChatGPT since March. Some links are said to have delivered working ChatGPT functionality and dangerous files.

Is ChatGPT the New Crypto?

At a press conference to discuss the report, Reuters tells us that Meta's Chief Information Security Officer Guy Rosen stated that "ChatGPT is the new crypto" for bad actors.

Rosen and other Meta executives remarked that the company was ready for a number of potential abuses associated with generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT, which can swiftly generate human-like writing, music, and even art.

Meta has discovered these malware operations at various phases of their lifetime and has already observed rapid adversarial adaptation in response to its detection.

Starting from March 2023, Meta has taken steps to safeguard people and businesses against malicious targeting using ChatGPT as bait.

As part of these efforts, Meta has blocked more than 1,000 harmful URLs shared across its technologies. Furthermore, the company has reported various browser extensions and mobile apps to its industry peers.

How Dangerous Is This Malware?

Malware families attack people via email phishing, malicious browser extensions, adverts and mobile apps, and numerous social media platforms to distribute unlawful advertisements from compromised business accounts.

Malware is frequently disguised as innocuous-looking files, mobile apps, or browser extensions available in official app stores.

They use prominent themes such as political news, the latest technology, or business productivity solutions to conceal their virus and deceive users into clicking on or downloading it.

Read more about the malware here.

Malicious groups frequently go after personal accounts of people who administer or are related to business pages and advertising accounts before targeting enterprises.

Threat actors may tailor their malware to target a specific online site, including more complex types of account compromise than you'd anticipate from standard malware.

Meta has sent a cease and desist letter to the individuals responsible for the Ducktail malware in Vietnam and has referred the matter to law enforcement. The corporation will investigate all further enforcement tools against bad actors who target customers using its services.

Legislators have identified generative AI systems such as ChatGPT as potentially facilitating the spread of online disinformation operations. Although it was still early, Meta executives predicted that "bad actors" would use the technologies to "try to speed up and perhaps scale up" their activities.

In related news, a data expert recently claimed that the AI tool could be used to develop sophisticated malware capable of stealing data from Windows devices.

What's in the News

Meta has discovered malware distributors who use public interest in ChatGPT to trick users into downloading malicious apps and browser extensions.

The company is preparing its defenses against various cases of abuse associated with generative AI technologies such as ChatGPT.

Since this year, Meta has identified and disrupted nearly ten new malware strains, including those masquerading as ChatGPT browser extensions and productivity tools.

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