A hacker said they purloined personal details from millions of OpenAI accounts-but researchers are skeptical, and the business is investigating.
OpenAI states it's investigating after a hacker claimed to have actually swiped login qualifications for code.snapstream.com 20 million of the AI company's user accounts-and put them up for sale on a dark web online forum.
The pseudonymous breacher published a puzzling message in Russian marketing "more than 20 million gain access to codes to OpenAI accounts," calling it "a goldmine" and wino.org.pl using potential buyers what they claimed was sample information containing email addresses and passwords. As reported by Gbhackers, the full dataset was being offered for sale "for simply a few dollars."
"I have more than 20 million gain access to codes for OpenAI accounts," emirking wrote Thursday, according to a translated screenshot. "If you're interested, reach out-this is a goldmine, and Jesus concurs."
If genuine, this would be the 3rd major security event for the AI company since the release of ChatGPT to the public. Last year, a hacker got access to the company's internal Slack messaging system. According to The New York Times, the hacker "stole details about the design of the business's A.I. technologies."
Before that, in 2023 an even easier bug including jailbreaking prompts enabled hackers to obtain the private information of OpenAI's paying consumers.
This time, however, security scientists aren't even sure a hack happened. Daily Dot reporter Mikael Thalan wrote on X that he found void email addresses in the supposed sample data: "No proof (recommends) this alleged OpenAI breach is legitimate. At least two addresses were void. The user's just other post on the online forum is for a stealer log. Thread has since been deleted too."
No proof this supposed OpenAI breach is genuine.
Contacted every email address from the supposed sample of login credentials.
At least 2 addresses were void. The user's just other post on the online forum is for a stealer log. Thread has actually considering that been erased too. https://t.co/yKpmxKQhsP
Thalen (@MikaelThalen) February 6, 2025
OpenAI takes it 'seriously'
In a declaration shown Decrypt, an OpenAI spokesperson acknowledged the scenario while maintaining that the company's systems appeared safe.
"We take these claims seriously," the representative said, including: "We have not seen any proof that this is linked to a compromise of OpenAI systems to date."
The scope of the alleged breach sparked issues due to OpenAI's enormous user base. Millions of users worldwide depend on the company's tools like ChatGPT for organization operations, instructional purposes, and material generation. A genuine breach could expose private conversations, business tasks, and other delicate data.
Until there's a final report, some preventive measures are constantly recommended:
- Go to the "Configurations" tab, log out from all connected gadgets, and make it possible for two-factor authentication or 2FA. This makes it essentially difficult for a hacker to gain access to the account, even if the login and passwords are jeopardized.
- If your bank supports it, then create a virtual card number to handle OpenAI subscriptions. This way, it is easier to find and prevent scams.
- Always keep an eye on the discussions saved in the chatbot's memory, fakenews.win and understand any phishing efforts. OpenAI does not ask for any personal details, and any payment update is always managed through the main OpenAI.com link.