OpenAI is urging macOS users to promptly update their ChatGPT app in response to recent privacy concerns. Data engineer Pedro José Pereira Vieito revealed that previous versions of the app stored user chats in plain text on local devices, potentially exposing them to other apps, processes, or malware.
These findings raised alarms about compliance with Apple‘s strict app sandboxing policies, which aim to safeguard user data by restricting access from unauthorized sources.
9to5Mac independently verified Vieito’s claims, highlighting the vulnerability of older versions of the ChatGPT app.
OpenAI has since released an updated version of ChatGPT for macOS, featuring enhanced encryption to bolster user privacy.
However, the updated version has yet to implement full app sandboxing, leaving some security concerns unaddressed.