The provided information is a comprehensive guide from Kaspersky on configuring privacy and security settings in ChatGPT. It covers aspects such as data collection and usage policies, memory management, handling of temporary chats, use of connectors (third-party integrations), and account security measures. The guide aims to help users understand how their data is processed and stored by ChatGPT and how to adjust settings to protect their privacy. There is no indication of a specific software vulnerability or exploit; rather, the focus is on user-configurable options that influence data exposure and security posture. The absence of affected versions and known exploits suggests this is an advisory on best practices rather than a direct threat. The medium severity rating likely reflects the potential impact of misconfigured settings leading to unintended data disclosure or account compromise. The article’s detailed nature (over 4000 words) implies a thorough treatment of privacy concerns, emphasizing the importance of proactive user management of AI tool settings to mitigate risks. This is particularly relevant as AI adoption grows and organizations integrate ChatGPT into workflows, potentially exposing sensitive information if privacy controls are neglected.

For European organizations, the primary impact of this advisory relates to privacy compliance and data protection rather than direct system compromise. Misconfiguration of ChatGPT privacy settings could lead to unauthorized data retention or sharing, risking exposure of sensitive corporate or personal information. This could result in violations of GDPR and other data protection regulations, leading to legal and financial penalties. Additionally, inadequate account security could allow unauthorized access to ChatGPT accounts, potentially exposing confidential conversations or enabling social engineering attacks. The use of connectors or third-party integrations without proper vetting may introduce additional risks of data leakage or compromise. Since ChatGPT is increasingly used in business environments for knowledge work, any privacy lapses could undermine trust and operational security. However, there is no evidence of active exploitation or technical vulnerabilities, so the threat is primarily related to privacy and configuration management rather than direct cyberattacks.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Conduct a thorough review of ChatGPT privacy and security settings, disabling unnecessary data collection and limiting memory retention where possible. 2) Use temporary chats for sensitive queries and ensure they are deleted promptly. 3) Carefully evaluate and restrict connectors or third-party integrations to trusted sources only, with clear data handling policies. 4) Enforce strong authentication mechanisms for ChatGPT accounts, including multi-factor authentication (MFA) where supported. 5) Train employees on privacy risks associated with AI tools and establish guidelines for handling sensitive information within ChatGPT. 6) Regularly audit ChatGPT usage and account activity logs to detect unauthorized access or anomalous behavior. 7) Align ChatGPT usage policies with GDPR and other relevant data protection frameworks to ensure compliance. 8) Engage with vendors to understand data processing agreements and ensure contractual protections for data privacy. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on configuration, user behavior, and organizational policy integration.