Privacy is at risk: ChatGPT for macOS saves conversations in plain text

OpenAI recently launched the official ChatGPT app for macOS. However, some users have expressed concerns about privacy, as the app saves all conversations in plain text, which can reveal sensitive data.

Here's What We Know

In a post on Threads, developer Pedro Vieito noted that the official ChatGPT app for Mac does not use the standard macOS sandbox system. When looking through the application's settings and cache files, Vieito discovered that all conversations are stored in plain text format, making them easily accessible to anyone.

Asandbox is a security system that runs an application and its data in an isolated environment. This prevents the application from accessing other parts of the system without permission and also protects the application data from being accessed by other applications.

These files are easily accessible to anyone with access to a Mac, including other applications, processes, or even malware. OpenAI does not use the standard macOS system to isolate the application and its data.

Owners risk a loss of privacy if their ChatGPT conversations are made available to others. Attackers could use this information for identity theft, blackmail, or other malicious purposes.

OpenAI has not yet commented on user concerns.

Source: 9to5Mac