Russian Hackers Attempt to Bypass OpenAI’s Restrictions for Malicious Use of ChatGPT

Check Point Research (CPR) is seeing attempts by Russian cybercriminals to bypass OpenAI’s restrictions, in order to use ChatGPT for malicious purposes. In underground hacking forums, hackers are discussing how to circumvent IP addresses, payment cards and phone numbers controls – all of which are needed to gain access to ChatGPT from Russia. CPR shares screenshots of what they saw and warns of the fast-growing interest of hackers in ChatGPT to scale malicious activity.

• Screenshot #1: Cybercriminal asks what is the best way to use stolen payment card to pay for upgraded user on OpenAI
• Screenshot #2: Discussion on how to bypass geo controls of OpenAI
• Screenshot #3: Tutorials in Russian semi-legal online SMS services on how to use it to register ChatGPT

Check Point Research (CPR) is seeing attempts by Russian cybercriminals to bypass OpenAI’s API restrictions. In underground Russian hacking forums, hackers are discussing how to bypass IP, payment cards and phone numbers limitation – all of which are needed to gain access to ChatGPT.

Sergey Shykevich, Threat Intelligence Group Manager at Check Point Software Technologies:

“It is not extremely difficult to bypass OpenAI’s restricting measures for specific countries to access ChatGPT. Right now, we are seeing Russian hackers already discussing and checking how to get past the geofencing to use ChatGPT for their malicious purposes. We believe these hackers are most likely trying to implement and test ChatGPT into their day-to-day criminal operations. Cybercriminals are growing more and more interested in ChatGPT, because the AI technology behind it can make a hacker more cost-efficient.”

Screenshots from Underground Hacking Forum

1. Russian cybercriminals wants to get access to OpenAI API and asks what is the best way to use stolen payment card to pay for upgraded user on OpenAI