Apps that were supposedly related to ChatGPT were actually fleeceware, resulting in charging users!
ChatGPT , OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot, has been named the fastest -growing app in history, reaching 100 million monthly active users just two months after its launch. The company had only released an online version of the tool and just yesterday announced an app for iPhone users in the United States . There’s no Android version yet, but OpenAI said that’s coming soon. Until now, the only way to access the technology on smartphones was to use Microsoft’s Bing app. However, malicious users had tried to take advantage of ChatGPT’s popularity early on, and despite the lack of an official mobile app, they managed to upload fake apps to Google’s Play Store and App Store that purportedly relied on the AI chatbot. Apple’s
See also: Mac App Store: Fake ChatGPT apps in the app store
Cybersecurity firm Sophos has identified several apps that are trying to trick users into believing they are based on ChatGPT’s language models. These apps are not malware. They are not harmful to smartphones and do not intend to gain unauthorized access to personal data. They are fleeceware, which are low-quality apps that trick users into signing up for subscription services.
Sophos says the apps exploited security/policy loopholes to infiltrate Google and Apple and pass off the ChatGPT fleeceware apps. The free versions of these apps bombard users with constant ads to trick them into paying for features that are available for free online. Their developers rely on fake reviews to make them look like legitimate apps.
See also: ChatGPT banned in Italy
Fleeceware ChatGPT apps that were identified by researchers:
Chat GBT: Its iOS version, called Ask AI Assistant, costs $6 per week and $312 per year after the three-day free trial ends. The developers made $10,000 in March alone.
Genie: Charges $7 for a week and $70 for a year. The developers made $1 million in profit in April.
GAI Assistant: The paid version costs $6 per week. The free version has a daily limit of ten entries. The developers earned about $15,000 in March.
AI Chat GBT: €6.49 per month.
AI Chat – Chatbot AI Assistant: Tries to charge $8 for a week, but the message can be bypassed.
Genie AI Chatbot: $7 weekly or $70 annual subscription. Brought in $700,000 in revenue last month.
AI Chatbot – Open Chat Writer: $6.99/month or $79.99/year
All of the apps have been reported to Apple and Google, and some have been removed. However, users who have downloaded them to devices will need to delete them. Simply deleting them is unfortunately not enough to get rid of the charges. You will also need to cancel your subscription, otherwise you will continue to be charged.
See also: ChatGPT: Is it a privacy risk?
Fleeceware is a growing problem that smartphone users need to be aware of. The developers behind these apps make millions of dollars through deceptive tactics that prey on unsuspecting users. Unfortunately, the ChatGPT-like fake apps above show that there is no such thing as complete security, as they were found in the official Google and Apple stores. However, in general, if you want to protect yourself from fleeceware, continue to prefer downloading apps from official app stores, avoid apps that require payment information up front, and always read reviews from other users. By staying vigilant, you can avoid falling victim to this costly scam.
Source: www.phonearena.com
