OpenAI takes account security seriously.
The company launched on Thursday Advanced account security (AAS), a set of protective options for ChatGPT users designed for high-net-worth individuals — but available to anyone who wants them.
As part of this new program, digital security provider Yubico was announced has partnered with OpenAI to connect two new security key products to ChatGPT accounts. The company said the partnership was designed to protect users from the threat of phishing, which is seen as a growing threat to chatbot users.
The two companies are releasing a pair of “co-branded” YubiKeys — called the YubiKey C NFC and the YubiKey C Nano.
OpenAI has suggested that AAS is suitable for political dissidents, journalists, researchers and elected officials — people who engage in politically charged and risky work. One might assume that it might make sense for corporate users, whose corporate secrets are leaked in ChatGPT sessions.
“Ultimately, our intention is to drastically reduce the threat of unauthorized access to sensitive data in OpenAI accounts worldwide,” Yubico CEO Jerrod Chong said in a press release announcing the deal.
Security keys are small pieces of hardware that can be linked to digital accounts and run through a computer’s USB ports. A unique cryptographic identifier resides in the key, which allows only the person who has it to log into a linked account.
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If the threat of Phished ChatGPT accounts may seem somewhat abstract, there is a growing body of literature showing that bad actors are increasingly targeting chatbot users. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for extortion-worthy information, and given the intimate nature of most chatbot conversations, there’s plenty of fodder when it comes to both corporate and personal users.
Digital security is also becoming a bigger focus of the AI industry. Several weeks ago, Anthropic announced a new cybersecurity model called Mythos. Perhaps seeking to steal some of its competitor’s thunder, OpenAI has also made some announcements about digital security. Thursday’s news of the Yubico partnership followed that of OpenAI communication that it ushers in a new framework for digital defence.
Of course, an account with a security key enabled offers stronger protection, but it comes with a trade-off: If the key is lost, OpenAI won’t be able to help regain access. In practice, this means that conversations could be lost permanently.
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