A hacker said they purloined private details from millions of OpenAI accounts-but scientists are skeptical, and the business is investigating.
OpenAI says it's investigating after a hacker claimed to have actually swiped login credentials for 20 countless the AI company's user accounts-and put them up for utahsyardsale.com sale on a dark web forum.
The pseudonymous breacher published a cryptic message in Russian marketing "more than 20 million gain access to codes to OpenAI accounts," calling it "a goldmine" and using prospective buyers what they claimed was sample data containing email addresses and passwords. As reported by Gbhackers, the complete dataset was being used for sale "for simply a couple of dollars."
"I have more than 20 million gain access to codes for OpenAI accounts," emirking composed Thursday, according to a translated screenshot. "If you're interested, reach out-this is a goldmine, and Jesus concurs."
If legitimate, this would be the 3rd significant security occurrence for the AI business because the release of ChatGPT to the general public. Last year, a hacker got access to the business's internal Slack messaging system. According to The New York Times, the hacker "took details about the style of the business's A.I. technologies."
Before that, in 2023 an even simpler bug including jailbreaking triggers enabled hackers to obtain the private data of OpenAI's paying clients.
This time, forum.altaycoins.com nevertheless, security researchers aren't even sure a hack took place. Daily Dot press reporter Mikael Thalan wrote on X that he found invalid email addresses in the supposed sample information: "No evidence (recommends) this supposed OpenAI breach is legitimate. A minimum of 2 addresses were void. The user's just other post on the forum is for a thief log. Thread has since been deleted also."
No proof this supposed OpenAI breach is legitimate.
Contacted every email address from the purported sample of login credentials.
At least 2 addresses were void. The user's only other post on the forum is for a stealer log. Thread has considering that been erased too. https://t.co/yKpmxKQhsP
- Mikael Thalen (@MikaelThalen) February 6, setiathome.berkeley.edu 2025
OpenAI takes it 'seriously'
In a statement shown Decrypt, forum.batman.gainedge.org an OpenAI representative acknowledged the situation while maintaining that the company's systems appeared safe.
"We take these claims seriously," the spokesperson said, including: "We have actually not seen any evidence that this is linked to a compromise of OpenAI systems to date."
The scope of the supposed breach sparked concerns due to OpenAI's enormous user base. Millions of users worldwide rely on the company's tools like ChatGPT for company operations, academic functions, and material generation. A legitimate breach might expose personal discussions, commercial projects, 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 devices, and make it possible for two-factor authentication or 2FA. This makes it virtually impossible for a hacker to gain access to the account, even if the login and passwords are jeopardized.
- If your bank supports it, then produce a virtual card number to manage OpenAI subscriptions. By doing this, it is simpler to find and prevent fraud.
- Always watch on the discussions kept in the chatbot's memory, and know any phishing attempts. OpenAI does not request for any personal details, and historydb.date any payment update is always dealt with through the main OpenAI.com link.
