Good day Team Members,

As part of this month’s Continuing Privacy and Security Training (“CPST”), the Compliance Team wanted to describe ChatGPT and Cybersecurity Concerns.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an open-source chatbot created by Open AI. It is powered by the GPT-3 model, a powerful deep learning algorithm developed by Open AI. The GPT-3 model is trained on billions of data points to generate human-like conversation. It has been designed to simulate natural conversation and respond to questions accurately.

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can be used by businesses to provide customer service quickly and efficiently. It can answer questions, provide customer support, and even generate content for websites and blogs. It is also used in chatbots, virtual assistants, and other AI applications.

Despite its many advantages, ChatGPT also poses some security risks if not used correctly. In this blog, we’ll discuss the security risks of ChatGPT and how you can protect yourself from them.

The Security Risks of ChatGPT

  1. ChatGPT is an open-source chatbot, which means anyone can access its code and modify it. This poses a security risk, as malicious actors can modify the code and use it to carry out cyberattacks. Additionally, the GPT-3 model is trained on billions of data points, which means it has access to a vast amount of data. This data can be used by malicious actors to carry out targeted attacks.
  2. Another security risk associated with ChatGPT is that it can be used to generate spam and phishing emails. Spammers can use the GPT-3 model to generate convincing emails that appear to be from legitimate sources. These emails can be used to steal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers.
  3. Finally, malicious actors can use ChatGPT to spread malware. Malware is malicious software that can steal confidential data, hijack computers, and carry out other malicious activities.

Types of Security Threats from ChatGPT

  1. Data privacy: ChatGPT relies on large datasets to learn and improve its responses. However, these datasets may contain sensitive information, such as personal data or confidential business information. As such, there is a risk that ChatGPT could unintentionally expose this information during conversations or if the system is breached.
  2. Malicious attacks: ChatGPT is vulnerable to attacks, such as adversarial attacks, where attackers intentionally feed the system with misleading or malicious input to manipulate its responses. This could lead to the system providing inaccurate or harmful information to users.
  3. Cybersecurity threats: As an AI system, ChatGPT can be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats such as hacking, data breaches, or malware attacks. Such attacks could lead to the loss of data or compromise the integrity of the system.
  4. Bias: Like any other AI system, ChatGPT can suffer from bias in its training data, leading to biased responses or recommendations. This can result in discriminatory outcomes or decisions that could negatively impact users.
  5. Cybercriminals can use the ability to simulate human-like conversations to deceive users and gain access to sensitive data or networks. For example, a hacker could use a Chat GPT-powered chatbot to trick an employee into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial data. Organizations must be vigilant in identifying and mitigating the risk of fraudulent conversations generated by Chat GPT to prevent these attacks.
  6. Chat GPT’s use may create challenges in regulatory compliance. Many industries are subject to strict data privacy regulations, such as GDPR and CCPA, which require organizations to protect personal data and ensure its lawful use. Chat GPT’s use may make it challenging to ensure compliance with these regulations, as the model’s output may contain personal data, and it may be tough to identify and control the use of this data.
  7. Chat GPT offers significant benefits to organizations in customer service and communication, its use also poses several security risks that organizations must be aware of and actively manage. By taking steps to identify and mitigate these risks, organizations can safely leverage Chat GPT’s capabilities while protecting their sensitive data and reputation.

How to Protect Yourself from ChatGPT Security Risks

Given the potential security risks of ChatGPT, it is important to take steps to protect ourselves. Here are some tips for keeping our data secure:

  1. Network Detection and Response NDR: For mid-to-large organizations, we need a comprehensive solution to monitor our network continuously against any malicious behavior.
  2. Use a secure password: For individuals, a strong password is the first line of defense against data theft. Choose a unique and complex password that is not easily guessed.
  3. Use two-factor authentication: Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your account. It requires you to enter a code sent to your phone or email in addition to your password.
  4. Keep your software up to date: Make sure to keep the operating system and other software up to date. This will help protect us from security vulnerabilities.
  5. Install antivirus software: Antivirus software can help protect you from malware, phishing emails, and other security threats.

As always, please let the eHealth Technologies’ Privacy and Security Compliance Team know if you have any questions on the privacy and security of Covered Information, including PHI, ePHI, and other Confidential Information.

 

Thank you for Caring Together,

eHT Compliance Team