ChatGPT is an AI driven natural language processing tool and has been the talk of the town since its release in November. The web-based chatbot has already been utilized for everything from crafting college level essays to writing computer code. Concerns have arisen in the academic realm due to the possibility of cheating, while many in the copywriting industry are worried about losing their jobs. The cybersecurity industry has also taken notice of potential threats ChatGPT may create.
The Concern
Check Point, an Israeli cybersecurity company, demonstrated that ChatGPT can be used in tandem with OpenAI’s code-writing system Codex to create phishing emails carrying a malicious payload. One major weakness of phishing attempts is their lack of sophistication – it is often quite clear that these emails are spam or attempting to extract information. However, with ChatGPT it will become very easy to create well written and believable emails. This poses a major cybersecurity threat, as more workers may accidentally expose confidential information.
Reasons for Optimism
There are plenty of ways ChatGPT can be used for good as well though. Cybersecurity professionals can use ChatGPT to generate code in order to simulate threats, exposing weak points in their defenses that can be improved. If further developed, ChatGPT may also become useful for automating tasks, drafting articles, and writing code.
Ultimately, ChatGPT is a technology that will be used on both sides of the cybersecurity war. The most important thing anyone can do at this time is just to be aware of the potential risks and take preventative steps to mitigate them. If you have any questions about ChatGPT, the protection of your information, or any general IT questions, feel free to reach out to us at info@optfinity.com.
Leave a Reply