Is ChatGPT safe to use? A guide to safety and privacy when using AI in 2026

In just four years, ChatGPT has transformed the way consumers and businesses interact with technology. After reaching 100 million active users in a record two months, it has become an essential tool for computers and mobile devices.

But as we get used to using it for everything from writing emails to planning businesses, one important question keeps resurfacing: Is it really secure?

Is ChatGPT safe to use? – Short Answer

The unsatisfactory answer is that it depends. OpenAI has invested a lot of time and money in security and privacy. But risks remain. The key is understanding what they are and whether they are manageable.

At a minimum, it's recommended that you never share personal, financial, or corporate information in a chat or message. Treat everything you write as potentially visible to the public.

The following guide will explain how ChatGPT handles your data, what security and privacy risks you should be aware of, and how to protect yourself step by step.

How does ChatGPT work?

ChatGPT runs on an extensive language model (LLM), a predictive system trained on vast amounts of text and code. It doesn't think like we do. It simply identifies statistical patterns in language to generate the next most likely word or phrase.

Every message you write in ChatGPT is processed and stored on OpenAI servers unless you request its deletion. Therefore, it's important to carefully consider what data you share with the tool. This is key to minimizing security and privacy risks when using it.

The seven biggest security risks of ChatGPT

Even with strong safeguards, real risks remain:

1. Data breaches and credential theft

In March 2023, a bug in the open-source Redis library temporarily exposed parts of chat titles, messages, and potentially payment-related information from other users. Although this bug was quickly fixed, there is always a risk that cybercriminals could exploit a zero-day vulnerability to access OpenAI/ChatGPT databases or find another way to gain access.

Your account could also be targeted separately. In 2024, the security firm Group-IB found over 100,000 stolen ChatGPT credentials on the dark web, most of them obtained from malware-infected devices. Once someone steals your password, they can read your entire chat history.

2. Privacy and AI training

By default, OpenAI uses your conversations to train future models (if you're using the consumer version). Authorized employees or contractors can read anonymized snippets for annotation. Although identifiers are removed, the context may reveal sensitive information. In enterprise versions, human review is strictly limited to what's necessary for security, abuse monitoring, and legal compliance.

3. Prompt Injection Attacks

Attackers can create prompts that bypass built-in security barriers, potentially forcing the model to reveal restricted content. For example, attackers hide malicious instructions within web pages or social media profiles analyzed by ChatGPT.

4. Fake apps and phishing scams

App stores and browser extension sites are full of fake ChatGPT apps that look legitimate but are designed to collect login data or install malware. Only download apps published by OpenAI.

5. Disinformation and hallucinations

ChatGPT sometimes presents false information very convincingly; this behavior is also known as "hallucination." Treat all responses as unverified until confirmed by a primary source.

6. Malware and social engineering

Threat actors can manipulate ChatGPT to return code snippets or phishing templates that help them launch cyberattacks. It can also be used to generate convincing deepfakes for fraud and extortion, and even to create malware.

7. The shadowy AI in the workplace

When employees use public ChatGPT for internal tasks, they could inadvertently share sensitive data with the LLM, posing security and compliance risks. In 2023, Samsung staff accidentally uploaded source code and meeting notes to the chatbot, forcing the Korean tech giant to ban third-party AI tools. According to IBM, one-fifth (20%) of global organizations reported experiencing a data breach in the past year due to security incidents involving shadow AI.

Information you should never share with ChatGPT

Treat each chat as if it were going to be public. Never enter:

• Personal identifiers: social security numbers, passport numbers, addresses, etc.
• Financial information: Card numbers, bank account details, tax identification numbers, etc.
• Passwords, API keys, or any other secrets (e.g., MFA tokens).
• Company data: Source code, customer lists, internal documents, non-public financial reports, legal documents.
• Health information: anything covered by HIPAA, GDPR, or similar laws.

Ten good habits to protect your data

1. Use only the official platforms: chat.openai.com or the verified ChatGPT mobile app available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.
2. Create a secure and unique password through a password manager.
3. Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Log in to your account. Select Settings → Security → Multi-factor authentication .
4. To disable data training: Settings → Data controls → disable “Improve model for all”.
5. Use temporary chats (available in all versions) for sensitive topics, as they are not stored or used for training. To start a temporary chat, open a new chat and click the circular "Temporary" button in the upper right corner of the page.
6. Use anonymous examples instead of providing actual information/files in the instructions.
7. Use a VPN on public Wi-Fi to encrypt traffic.
8. Delete your chat history periodically ( Settings → Data controls → Clear history ).
9. Sign out of shared devices so that no one else can hijack your account.

The future of AI security

AI regulation is accelerating. The EU AI Act will require new levels of transparency and data governance from vendors. OpenAI and its competitors are expected to incorporate on-device processing, more effective user-controlled configurations (similar to Claude's defaults), and real-time audit logs defined by relevant regulatory bodies.

So, is it safe to use ChatGPT?

Even with reasonable precautions, AI and its agents expand the attack surface and can expose you (and your organization) to additional risk. OpenAI has built security into its products, but its business model still relies on data collection. Your security and privacy depend on how you manage that data.

Next steps:

• Go to Settings → Security and enable Multi-factor Authentication (MFA).
• Go to Settings → Data controls and turn off “Improve the model for everyone”.
• For sensitive topics, use temporary chats and delete your chat history periodically.
• Share this guide with your team to avoid “shadow AI” incidents.

If managed responsibly, ChatGPT can be a powerful and reasonably secure tool. But only if you maintain control of your data.

Do you use ChatGPT at work?

Artificial intelligence can also be your best ally in security. With ESET Small Business Security and ESET PROTECT , protect your business against data theft and advanced threats thanks to ESET's AI-powered threat detection.

Drive innovation, while keeping your information and that of your customers secure.