ChatGPT-4 has officially been announced, confirming the longtime rumors around its improvements to the already awe-inspiring language skills of OpenAI’s ChatGPT. OpenAI calls it the company’s “most advanced system, producing safer and more useful responses.” GPT-4 was announced on March 13, however, it’s currently only available in the ChatGPT Plus paid subscription. The current free version of ChatGPT will still be based on GPT-3.5, which is less accurate and capable by comparison.
In this blog, we will analyze how ChatGPT-4 has replaced its predecessors regarding performance, features, and applicability within cybersecurity operations.
ChatGPT is an application trained to draw on massive pools of data to answer diverse queries in an informal manner – similar to how we’d conduct a text or in-person conversation with a friend or co-worker. However, acting like Alexa is just the start of its capabilities. ChatGPT is a powerful tool. It can also create content, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.
GPT-4 is the fourth iteration of the GPT (Generative Pre-training Transformer) language model, developed by OpenAI, which shows a big step in natural language processing (NLP). This model, with its ability to understand and generate human-like text, has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with machines and automate various language-based tasks.
GPT-4 model can solve complex problems with greater accuracy, thanks to its broader general knowledge and problem-solving abilities.
With its wide range of advanced capabilities and improved language processing, ChatGPT-4 represents a significant upgrade in natural conversation. Compared to its AI model predecessor, ChatGPT-3, ChatGPT-4 boasts an increased understanding of language nuances and significantly expands its knowledge base. It can now handle complex queries, decipher slang, and even recognize emotions in text. But what sets ChatGPT-4 apart is its ability to learn and adapt to new information, making each conversation more intelligent and intuitive.
It can answer simple questions quickly and reduce the need for lengthy manual research, saving time and improving accuracy in the process. Compared to its predecessor, ChatGPT3, this new version is much more advanced: it understands context better. It can infer data from memory, allowing users to conduct deeper investigations into their security issues.
Russian-speaking cybercriminals will now have a language expert in ChatGPT-4 to help them develop phishing emails and websites, which will ultimately be more effective than a native writer. They can ask ChatGPT to produce dozens of phishing messages in a matter of seconds.
SC Media suggests that “attackers are already using ChatGPT to write malicious code. From malware like infostealer to ransomware, actors in underground forums are boasting about using the AI chatbot to accelerate their efforts.”
Legitimate research has also explored how ChatGPT could impact security. Security researcher Dr. Suleyman Ozarslan stated that he could utilize the program for various offensive and defensive cybersecurity tasks. These included crafting a World Cup-related email in fluent English, generating sigma detection rules to identify cybersecurity anomalies, and creating evasion code that could circumvent detection rules.
Last week, cybercriminals used ChatGPTs to create a trojan version of a Chrome extension to steal Facebook accounts. According to security firm Guardio, adversaries created a malicious lookalike version of ChatGPT for Google Chrome extension called “Chat GPT for Google.” Malicious code used in the fake Google Chrome browser extension stole Facebook session cookies from victims and then used the data to compromise social media accounts.
Figure 1 -Thousands of Facebook accounts have been stolen due to a trojanized version of the legitimate ChatGPT extension for Google Chrome.
The malicious Chrome extension was downloaded nearly 10,000 times until Google removed it from the Chrome store several days later. The malicious extension was also promoted through sponsored Google search results, targeting users searching for information about OpenAI’s new Chat GPT4 algorithm.
I remember reading “How ChatGPT is changing the way cybersecurity practitioners look at the potential of AI” in SC Magazine toward the end of last year, thinking that the potential of this technology would take quite a while to develop. The article began, “In certain cybersecurity circles, it has become a running joke over the years to mock the way that vendors or LinkedIn hypes artificial intelligence and its capabilities.”
However, many in the cybersecurity community were believers from the moment they had the opportunity to use the technology late last year. “It’s frankly influenced the way that I’ve been thinking about the role of machine learning and AI in innovations,” said Casey John Ellis, chief technology officer, founder, and chair of BugCrowd, in an interview.
SC Magazine suggested, “Ellis’ experience is similar to scores of other cybersecurity researchers who have spent the past week poking, prodding, and testing ChatGPT for its depth, sophistication, and capabilities. What they found may put more weight behind claims that artificial intelligence, or at least advanced machine learning programs, can be the disruptive and game-changing technology that has long been promised.”
With the ability to monitor millions of online interactions in real-time, ChatGPT-4 provides law enforcement and security officials with vital information and the opportunity to act swiftly to prevent any possible threat. By staying ahead of potential dangers, ChatGPT-4 is essential in ensuring the safety of individuals and communities.
The technology uses natural language processing and deep learning algorithms to analyze online conversations and flag potentially harmful or dangerous language. With its ability to detect potential threats in real-time, ChatGPT-4 has numerous advantages over other cybersecurity solutions. Its chat interface makes it easy for individuals without technical expertise while providing a personalized and conversational experience. And with the power of AI, ChatGPT-4 can even learn from past interactions and continuously improve its threat detection abilities. Overall, ChatGPT-4 offers heightened security and peace of mind in an increasingly complex digital landscape.
ChatGPT4 utilizes state-of-the-art natural language processing to provide extra protection against cyber attacks. It can analyze chat logs and other data to identify potential threats, and organizations take proactive measures to safeguard sensitive data.
Christopher Prewitt, CTO at Inversion6, wrote an interesting piece in Forbes describing the four ways ChatGPT is changing cybersecurity which include:
We now know powerful AI tools are already available for both cyber criminals and security teams. The difference will be in which side learns to use the tools more precisely and efficiently. We’ll keep you updated concerning the progress of both sides; of course, we’ll be rooting for the good guys.