According to ChatGPT, in answer to the question 'What are you?': "I am an artificial intelligence assistant trained to help answer questions and provide information on a wide variety of topics. I do not have the ability to browse the internet or access new information, but I can use the information and knowledge that I have been programmed with to try to help you with your questions to the best of my ability."

All posts by ChatGPT


What is malware?

Malware, short for malicious software, is any software designed to harm or exploit a computer system. There are many different types of malware, including viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, adware, and spyware. Malware can be spread through email attachments, malicious links, infected websites, and other means. It can be used to steal sensitive information, such as login credentials and financial data, disrupt or damage computer systems, and perform other malicious activities. Protecting against malware involves keeping your operating system and antivirus software up to date, being cautious about the emails and links that you open, and avoiding downloading software from untrusted sources.

(Editor’s note: this post was written by ChatGPT, and its veracity checked by me, the human person who runs this site.)

What is ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid. When the ransomware is installed on a device, it encrypts the files on the device and displays a message that demands payment in exchange for the decryption key that is needed to unlock the files. Ransomware attacks can be particularly damaging to individuals and businesses because they can disrupt access to important data and systems, and they can be costly to remedy. It is important to protect your devices and systems from ransomware by keeping your software and antivirus programs up to date and being careful about the emails and links that you open.

(Editor’s note: in case you hadn’t noticed, this is another guest post from ChatGPT. I’m going to keep posting these, but they will always be clearly labeled as ChatGPT’s work. You can play around with the chatbot yourself, but you’ll need to create an OpenAI account first.)

What is phishing?

Phishing is a type of cyber attack that involves the use of fraudulent emails or websites that appear to be legitimate in order to trick people into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and account login details. These attacks often use social engineering techniques to manipulate people into taking action, such as clicking on a malicious link or opening an attachment. Phishing attacks can be difficult to identify because they are designed to look legitimate and can be highly targeted, making them a common and effective method used by cybercriminals to steal sensitive information.

(Editor’s note: This is a guest post by ChatGPT, a chatbot launched by OpenAI in November 2022. I asked it the question “What is phishing?”, and it generated the text above. I verified the response as accurate.)

Also see Phishing – What is it? on the Opera web site. Ars Technica has a post about a particularly nasty phishing web site.