Businesses Take A Sigh Of Relief As Research Says WormGPT And FraudGPT Are Not As Risky As They Sound!

From iconic classics like "2001: A Space Odyssey" and its menacing AI, HAL 9000, to modern masterpieces like "Ex Machina," where a sophisticated humanoid AI raises unsettling questions – films have vividly illustrated the intricate interplay between humanity and technology.
Pretty similar to what we have seen in these movies, in this ever-evolving landscape of technology, concerns about smart AI systems being misused for malicious purposes keep surfacing now and then.

According to a new report, recently there has been talk of AI-driven hackers using tools like WormGPT and FraudGPT to execute phishing campaigns, create harmful code and orchestrate cybercrimes. However, before diving into the panic, let's unravel the real story behind these alarming headlines. #BehindTheScenes

The creators of the so-called "dark web" and AI models such as WormGPT and FraudGPT boast about their capabilities to launch phishing attacks, fabricate convincing messages and craft malicious code that manipulate victims into falling for email scams. They even claim these AI systems can devise custom hacking tools, pinpoint vulnerabilities in code and construct deceptive web pages for scams.

What are WormGPT and FraudGPT exactly?

Let's focus on WormGPT, which made its appearance in early July. So, it is reportedly ChatGPT's Arch-Nemesis, which is said to be built upon GPT-J, an AI language model released by the open research collective EleutherAI in 2021.
However, the latest news is that there's a crucial distinction – WormGPT lacks the safety mechanisms that would prevent others such as ChatGPT from responding to specific hacking-related queries.
In other words, it doesn't hold back addressing questions that GPT-J would typically avoid. So, one of the reports even called it, “a ChatGPT alternative with no ethical boundaries or limitations.”

TechDogs-"A Screengrab Of An Email Generated From WormGPT."

Source

Besides, on dark web forums, FraudGPT's creators call it a "cutting-edge" tool claiming the LLM (large learning models) can "create undetectable malware" and uncover websites vulnerable to credit card fraud. Nevertheless, the report says, "the creator reveals little about the LLM's architecture besides that it's a variant of GPT-3; there's not much to go on besides the hyperbolic language."

On the other hand, here's the twist! The same report says the emergence of models like WormGPT does warrant attention – but the rapid pace of AI development and the limitations of these models suggest that the scope of hacking is less catastrophic than it may appear. How, you ask? Let's see:

So, according to the report, while AI models such as WormGPT could indeed pose risks, they are far from being the ultimate hacking tools that the dark web creators hype them up to be. #AIShenanigansRevealed
Alberto Romero, a contributor to the AI-focused blog "Towards Data Science," highlights that GPT-J falls notably short when it comes to various tasks beyond coding, such as generating coherent and convincing text. Therefore, it's safe to say that AI offshoots such as WormGPT, which stems from GPT-J, might not excel in crafting persuasive phishing emails. #TakeAChillPill
In fact, Alberto Romero reports that GPT-J performs "significantly worse" than GPT-3, GPT -4's predecessor, at tasks other than coding — including writing plausible-sounding text.

Nevertheless, there's undoubtedly a need for vigilance against potential cyber threats driven by AI; the situation isn't as serious as it may seem. The progress made in AI research, shown by the leaps from GPT-J to GPT-4, indicates that these budding AI-powered hackers will likely face limitations and setbacks, making their exploits less challenging for businesses.

Do you think, businesses should panic over malicious AI applications such as WormGPT and FraudGPT?

Pitch your thoughts in the comments section below!

First published on Tue, Aug 8, 2023

Enjoyed what you read? Great news – there’s a lot more to explore!

Dive into our content repository of the latest tech news, a diverse range of articles spanning introductory guides, product reviews, trends and more, along with engaging interviews, up-to-date AI blogs and hilarious tech memes!

Also explore our collection of branded insights via informative white papers, enlightening case studies, in-depth reports, educational videos and exciting events and webinars from leading global brands.

Head to the TechDogs homepage to Know Your World of technology today!

Disclaimer - Reference to any specific product, software or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by TechDogs nor should any data or content published be relied upon. The views expressed by TechDogs' members and guests are their own and their appearance on our site does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by TechDogs' Authors are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of TechDogs or any of its officials. All information / content found on TechDogs' site may not necessarily be reviewed by individuals with the expertise to validate its completeness, accuracy and reliability.

Tags:

Artificial Intelligence (AI)Cybersecurity Generative AI Emerging Technology IT Security Phishing WormGPT FraudGPT Large Learning Models (LLM) AI Threats

Join The Discussion

Emerging Technology