Cybersecurity firm Sophos has now made the users acknowledge the case of fake ChatGPT apps. It claims that downloading these apps can be risky, that they have almost no functionality, and that they are continually sending advertisements. According to the report, these apps lure unaware users into subscribing for a subscription that can costs hundreds of dollars annually.

How Does the Fake ChatGPT App Scam Work? 

Sophos refers these fake ChatGPT apps as fleeceware, describing them as ones that bombard users with adverts until they give in and purchase the subscription. These apps are purposefully made to only be used for a short period of time after the free trial period ends, causing users to remove them without realizing they are still obligated to make weekly or monthly membership payments.

According to the report, five investigated bogus ChatGPT apps with names like "Chat GBT" were available in order to deceive users and increase their exposure in the Google Play or App Store rankings. The research also claimed that whereas these fake apps charged users ranging from $10 per month to $70 per year, OpenAl's ChatGPT offers key functionality that could be used for free online. Another scam app named Genie lured users into subscribing for $7 weekly or $70 annually, generating $1 million in income over the previous month.

“Scammers have and always will use the latest trends or technology to line their pockets. ChatGPT is no exception," said Sean Gallagher, principal threat researcher, Sophos. "With interest in AI and chatbots arguably at an all-time high, users are turning to the Apple App and Google Play Stores to download anything that resembles ChatGPT. These types of scam apps—what Sophos has dubbed ‘fleeceware’—often bombard users with ads until they sign up for a subscription. They’re banking on the fact that users won’t pay attention to the cost or simply forget that they have this subscription. They’re specifically designed so that they may not get much use after the free trial ends, so users delete the app without realizing they’re still on the hook for a monthly or weekly payment."

While some of the bogus ChatGPT fleeceware have already been tracked and removed from the app stores, they are expected to resurface in the future. Hence, it is recommended for users to stay cautious of these fake apps, and make sure that the apps they are downloading are legitimate.

For users who have already download these apps are advised to follow protocols provided by the App Store or Google Play store on how to “unsubscribe,” since just deleting the bogus apps would not cancel one’s subscription.  

Google has launched its latest large language model, PaLM 2, in a bid to regain its position as a leader in artificial intelligence. PaLM 2 is an advanced language model that can understand the nuances of human language and generate responses that are both accurate and natural-sounding.

The new model is based on a transformer architecture, which is a type of deep learning neural network that excels at understanding the relationships between words and phrases in a language. PaLM 2 is trained on a massive dataset of language, which enables it to learn from a diverse range of sources and improve its accuracy and comprehension over time.

PaLM 2 has several features that set it apart from previous language models. One of these is its ability to learn from multiple sources simultaneously, which allows it to understand a broader range of language than previous models. It can also generate more diverse and natural-sounding responses, making it ideal for applications such as chatbots and virtual assistants.

Google has already begun using PaLM 2 in its products and services, such as Google Search and Google Assistant. The model has also been made available to developers through Google Cloud AI, allowing them to build more advanced applications and services that can understand and respond to human language more accurately.

The launch of PaLM 2 is significant for Google, as it comes at a time when the company is facing increased competition from other tech giants such as Microsoft and OpenAI. Both of these companies have recently launched large language models of their own, which are also based on transformer architectures.

Google hopes that PaLM 2 will help it to regain its position as a leader in AI research and development. The company has invested heavily in machine learning and natural language processing over the years, and PaLM 2 is a testament to its ongoing commitment to these fields.

In conclusion, Google's PaLM 2 is an advanced language model that has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with technology. Its ability to understand and respond to human language more accurately and naturally is a significant step forward in the development of AI, and it will be exciting to see how developers and businesses leverage this technology to build more advanced applications and services.

Despite the security measures put in place by OpenAI, with a majority of developers using it for harmless purposes, a new analysis suggests that AI can still be utilized by threat actors to create malware. 

According to a cybersecurity researcher, ChatGPT was utilised to create a zero-day attack that may be used to collect data from a hacked device. Alarmingly, the malware managed to avoid being detected by every vendor on VirusTotal. 

As per Forcepoint researcher Aaron Mulgrew, he had decided early on in the malware development process not to write any code himself and instead to use only cutting-edge approaches often used by highly skilled threat actors, such as rogue nation-states. 

Mulgrew, who called himself a "novice" at developing malware, claimed that he selected the Go implementation language not just because it was simple to use but also because he could manually debug the code if necessary. In order to escape detection, he also used steganography, which conceals sensitive information within an ordinary file or message. 

Creating Dangerous Malware Through ChatGPT 

Mulgrew found a loophole in ChatGPT's code that allowed him to write the malware code line by line and function by function. 

He created an executable that steals data discreetly after compiling each of the separate functions, which he believes were comparable to nation-state malware. The drawback here is that Mulgrew developed such dangerous malware with no advanced coding experience or with the help of any hacking team. 

As told by Mulgrew, the malware poses as a screensaver app, that launches itself on Windows-sponsored devices, automatically. Once launched, the malware looks for various files, like Word documents, images, and PDFs, and steals any data it can find. 

The data is then fragmented by the malware and concealed within other photos on the device. The data theft is difficult to identify because these images are afterward transferred to a Google Drive folder. 

Latest from OpenAI 

According to a report by Reuters, European Data Protection Board (EDPB) has recently established a task force to address privacy issues relating to artificial intelligence (AI), with a focus on ChatGPT. 

The action comes after recent decisions by Germany's commissioner for data protection and Italy to regulate ChatGPT, raising the possibility that other nations may follow suit.  

One such chatbot is OpenAI's ChatGPT, which has been making headlines after Italy blocked access to it. But will the rest of Europe follow suit?

ChatGPT Chatbot: Is Europe Following Italy's Move to Block Access?

Italy recently blocked access to the ChatGPT chatbot, citing concerns about the potential impact it could have on society. One of the concerns is that it could be used to spread misinformation or disinformation, as it can generate responses based on any input it receives. This could be particularly problematic in areas such as politics or health, where misinformation can have serious consequences. 

 "Another concern is that the chatbot could be used to impersonate individuals or engage in fraudulent activities. Ursula Pachl, Deputy Director of the BEUC said "Consumers are not ready for this technology. They don't realize how manipulative, how deceptive it can be." 

Risks of Chatbots: Misinformation and Fraudulent Activities

The concerns raised by Italy are not unfounded. Chatbots like ChatGPT have the potential to spread misinformation or disinformation. They can generate responses based on any input they receive, which means they can be manipulated to provide false information. This could be particularly problematic in areas such as politics or health, where misinformation can have serious consequences. Additionally, chatbots could be used to impersonate individuals or to engage in fraudulent activities.

Despite the risks, chatbots like ChatGPT have many potential benefits. For example, they can be used to provide quick and efficient customer service. They can also be used in mental health counseling, where they can provide a non-judgmental and safe space for individuals to express themselves. Chatbots can also be used to gather data or provide information to users.

Attitudes Towards AI in Europe: Impact on Chatbot Usage

Attitudes towards AI and automation vary across Europe, and this could impact the use of chatbots. Some countries may share Italy's concerns about the potential risks of chatbots, while others may see them as useful tools that can benefit society in many ways. The cultural and societal attitudes towards AI will likely influence the decision to restrict or allow access to chatbots like ChatGPT.

Europe's Response: Will Other Countries Follow Italy's Lead?

It's unclear whether other countries in Europe will follow Italy's lead and restrict access to ChatGPT. Some countries may choose to take a cautious approach to the use of chatbots, particularly in areas where the potential risks are highest. Other countries may see chatbots as useful tools that can benefit society in many ways. 

Ultimately, the decision to use or restrict chatbots will depend on a variety of factors, including the perceived risks and benefits of the technology, as well as cultural and societal attitudes toward AI and automation.

Balancing Risks and Benefits: The Future of Chatbots in Europe

As AI continues to advance, it's important to carefully consider the potential risks and benefits of chatbots like ChatGPT. While there are concerns about the potential negative impact of these bots, they also have many potential benefits. 

One potential solution to the concerns raised by Italy and other countries could be to implement regulations and standards for the use of chatbots. These regulations could help to mitigate the risks associated with chatbots, while still allowing for their many potential benefits. 

Another solution could be to improve the training of chatbots so that they are better equipped to handle complex or sensitive topics. Similarly, chatbots used in political discussions could be trained to recognize and respond to fake news or propaganda.