Hackers Are Selling Stolen ChatGPT and OmniGPT Data on BreachForums — What Happened and How to Protect Yourself

What if your AI chat history—everything from product roadmaps and snippets of code to HR questions and customer emails—suddenly showed up for sale on an underground forum? That’s the unsettling reality emerging from reports that threat actors are peddling stolen data from major AI platforms, including OpenAI’s ChatGPT and OmniGPT, on BreachForums. It’s not just the accounts at risk—it’s the sensitive context inside those conversations and the API keys that can unlock downstream systems.

In this deep dive, we’ll unpack what’s being claimed, why it matters, how attacks like this actually work, and exactly what to do about it—whether you’re an individual user, an IT leader, or a security team responsible for protecting an enterprise.

The BreachForums Listings: What’s Being Claimed

According to reporting from SWK Technologies in its February 2025 cybersecurity recap, between January and February 2025, actors on BreachForums claimed to be selling:

Chat histories and credentials from roughly 30,000 OmniGPT users
More than 20,000 “access codes” that could log into OpenAI’s ChatGPT accounts

Source: SWK Technologies cybersecurity news recap (Feb 2025)

BreachForums is a well-known marketplace for stolen data and hacking tools—think of it as a clearinghouse for cybercrime. You can read background here: BreachForums (Wikipedia).

A few critical caveats: – Underground forum claims are often exaggerated to boost sales. Not all “for sale” data is fresh or valid. – Even so, the volume, specificity, and timing here point to a broader trend: AI platforms and their users are now prime targets. – Whether the data comes from platform-side compromises or user-side theft (e.g., info-stealer malware) matters for response—but the risk to end users is similar: account takeover, data exposure, and downstream exploitation.

Why This Matters: The Real Risks Behind “AI Account” Breaches

AI chats are not just idle banter. They often include: – Proprietary code snippets and design docs – Internal business plans and financial figures – Customer data, PII, and regulated information – API keys, tokens, and secrets pasted in “temporarily” – Security runbooks, vulnerability notes, and vendor access details

When attackers get this data, they can: – Hijack accounts and drain paid credits – Impersonate users and launch convincing phishing or BEC attacks – Reuse exposed passwords for credential stuffing across other services – Harvest API keys to pivot into developer environments or automations – Train adversarial models on stolen dialogues to improve scams and social engineering – Leak or extort companies over sensitive conversations

For enterprises, there’s an added twist: AI platforms are now a data aggregation layer where business logic, engineering, and customer operations converge. One compromised account can reveal context that enables much wider compromise.

What We Know vs. What’s Unclear

What we know from the reported listings: – Threat actors advertised OmniGPT chat histories and credentials at meaningful scale. – Another actor promoted tens of thousands of access codes for ChatGPT.

What remains unclear: – Exact source of theft (platform-side breach, third-party integration, or user device compromise). – Share of “fresh” versus recycled data from prior stealer malware logs. – Validity of access codes and the recency of chats offered.

Regardless, the prudent move is to treat this as actionable risk: assume some portion is legitimate and respond accordingly.

How Attacks Like This Happen: Likely Vectors

There are multiple ways stolen AI data ends up on forums like BreachForums. Even when platforms aren’t directly breached, user behaviors and devices can leak sensitive material.

1) Info-stealer malware on user devices

Browser-resident “stealer” malware (e.g., RedLine, Raccoon, Lumma, Vidar variants) can siphon: – Saved passwords and autofill data – Cookies and session tokens (allowing login without a password) – Clipboard contents, including API keys – Local files and screenshots

Attackers bundle and resell these “logs,” often tagged by domain or keyword (e.g., “chatgpt”). See MITRE ATT&CK technique for stealing web session cookies: T1539: Steal Web Session Cookie, and credentials from password stores: T1555: Credentials from Password Stores.

2) Credential stuffing and password reuse

If users reuse passwords, attackers test them across popular services. If MFA is weak (SMS) or absent, many logins succeed.

3) Phishing and “support” scams

Well-crafted phish—or fake “account recovery” prompts—can trick users into handing over session codes, MFA codes, or OAuth grants.

4) Session hijacking

Even with strong passwords, stolen cookies and tokens can bypass login and MFA until sessions are revoked or expire.

5) Third-party app or plugin exposure

Connected services (plugins, custom integrations, browser extensions) can become the weakest link, exposing tokens or chat content if they’re over-permissioned or compromised. Review OWASP’s guidance: OWASP API Security Top 10.

6) Weak MFA or outdated auth flows

SMS-based MFA is vulnerable to SIM swapping and prompt bombing. Phishing-resistant factors reduce these risks significantly. See NIST SP 800-63B and FIDO Alliance: Passkeys.

Who’s Most at Risk Right Now

Individual users who saved ChatGPT or OmniGPT passwords in browsers, reuse passwords, or rely on SMS MFA
Developers and data scientists pasting secrets or code into chats
Executives and managers discussing strategy, M&A, or HR matters with AI
Teams using shared team accounts or shared “access codes”
Organizations without SSO/SCIM, centralized logging, or conditional access for AI apps
MSPs and consultants whose conversations include multiple client environments

Immediate Actions for Individuals (Do These Today)

1) Change your AI platform passwords – Use a unique, 16+ character password for each service. – Store credentials in a reputable password manager. – Rotate any “access codes” or invites you control.

2) Turn on phishing-resistant MFA – Prefer passkeys or hardware security keys (WebAuthn/FIDO2) where supported. – If only one-time codes are available, use app-based TOTPs over SMS. – Learn about passkeys.

3) Rotate API keys and delete secrets from chats – Revoke and reissue any API keys you may have pasted into prompts. – If supported, delete sensitive chat threads, or export and purge locally.

4) Scan your devices for malware – Run a full scan with reputable endpoint protection. – Check browser extensions; remove anything you don’t absolutely trust.

5) Review login and session history – Log out of all devices/sessions in account settings. – Re-authenticate with MFA.

6) Check for broader exposure – See if your email is in known breaches: Have I Been Pwned. – If found, rotate passwords on any accounts sharing that password (and stop reusing).

7) Lock down recovery channels – Ensure your email account has strong MFA and recovery codes printed/stored securely. – Remove backup phone numbers you don’t use.

8) Reduce future data risk – Don’t paste secrets into chats; use vaults or secret managers. – Treat chat exports like sensitive documents and store them securely.

Immediate Actions for Security Teams (First 72 Hours)

1) Triage and scoping – Query SIEM/IdP logs for suspicious logins to AI apps (impossible travel, TOR/VPN ASNs, new geos). – Identify shared, role, or service accounts used with AI tools. – Enforce a forced password reset for high-risk cohorts.

2) Session and token hygiene – Revoke active sessions and refresh tokens for at-risk users. – Rotate API keys and OAuth application secrets tied to AI workflows.

3) Harden access quickly – Enforce phishing-resistant MFA (passkeys, FIDO2) via your IdP. – Require device posture checks and block unmanaged endpoints for AI apps. – Shorten session lifetimes; enable re-auth on high-risk actions.

4) Endpoint and browser hunts – Hunt for stealer malware IOCs; monitor unusual browser process activity and exfiltration. – Audit installed extensions; remove high-risk or unapproved add-ons.

5) Data governance – Disable copy/paste of secrets into AI apps using DLP/browser control where feasible. – Classify AI prompts/outputs containing sensitive data; route through secure gateways if available.

6) Threat intelligence and monitoring – Task your intel vendor to watch BreachForums and related markets for your domains/usernames. – Coordinate with legal and, if necessary, law enforcement. – Avoid direct engagement with illicit marketplaces.

7) Communications – Draft clear internal guidance: how to reset credentials, rotate keys, and report suspicious activity. – Prepare external messaging if customer or regulated data may be implicated.

8) Document and learn – Capture timelines, impacted assets, and control gaps. – Feed findings into risk registers and control roadmaps.

For architectural guidance, see CISA’s Zero Trust model: CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model.

Controls to Implement This Quarter

Authentication
Enforce SSO with phishing-resistant MFA for AI platforms.
Move to passkeys across the org where supported and practical.
Access and sessions
Conditional access requiring managed, compliant devices and known networks.
Device-bound tokens and short session lifetimes; re-auth for sensitive operations.
Data protections
DLP rules for code, secrets, and PII in browsers and chat inputs.
Prompt redaction and safe “paste” workflows for developers (e.g., scrub secrets before sharing).
Secrets scanners in repos and ChatOps to block accidental leak paths.
Platform governance
Formal intake review for any new AI tool or plugin.
Least-privilege scopes for integrations; periodic token/key rotations.
SCIM for lifecycle management; auto-deprovision on offboarding.
Monitoring and response
Centralize AI app logs; alert on abnormal prompts (e.g., mass data dumps).
Dark web monitoring for domain- and brand-keyed data.
Tabletop exercises: “AI account takeover” and “stolen chat export” scenarios.
Vendor and legal
Update DPAs and supplier security questionnaires to cover AI data retention, encryption, and logging.
Validate incident reporting timelines to meet regulatory obligations.
Developer enablement
Provide a sanctioned, auditable AI path (enterprise tier, private data controls).
Offer alternatives for secure retrieval-augmented tasks to avoid copy/pasting secrets.

How to Track BreachForums Activity Without Taking Risks

Use reputable threat intelligence providers that legally collect and validate underground data.
Coordinate with your MSSP or MDR for targeted lookups.
Avoid direct purchases or engagement on illicit forums—this can be illegal and exposes your team to additional risk.
Subscribe to industry ISACs/ISAOs for vetted indicators and timely alerts.

Regulatory and Legal Considerations

Personal data exposure may trigger breach notification under laws like GDPR or U.S. state privacy regulations (e.g., CCPA/CPRA), depending on what’s exposed and your role (controller/processor).
Public companies may have disclosure obligations if material cybersecurity risks or incidents are identified.
Cross-border transfers and AI data retention policies should be reviewed and aligned with your DPAs and internal policies.
Keep counsel closely involved in scoping, notification decisions, and evidence preservation.

The Bigger Picture: AI Platforms Are Now High-Value Targets

This episode underscores a structural shift: – AI platforms aggregate high-signal business context—prime material for phishing, extortion, and lateral movement. – Attackers don’t need to crack a hyperscaler; they can steal a user’s session cookie and walk right in. – Access codes, invite links, and shared team accounts—while convenient—introduce lateral risk if not governed tightly. – Adversaries can even train AI models on stolen chat histories to produce more convincing social engineering and technical probes.

As AI adoption accelerates, protecting prompts, outputs, and tokens is as important as protecting email and source code.

What AI Platforms Can Do to Harden Security

Authentication
Default to phishing-resistant MFA; deprecate SMS where possible.
Support passkeys and hardware keys broadly.
Session security
Device-bound session tokens and detection of token replay from unusual fingerprints.
Rapid revocation pathways and clear user controls to end all sessions.
Data minimization
Clear retention controls for users and enterprises (short defaults, easy deletion).
Segregation of enterprise data; opt-in training policies with strict governance.
Monitoring and abuse detection
Heuristics for automated or brokered logins (velocity, fingerprints, ASN patterns).
Anomaly detection on content access and export behaviors.
Ecosystem security
Vet plugins and integrations; enforce scoped tokens and frequent rotation.
Publish robust developer security guidelines and SDKs with least-privilege defaults.
Transparency and trust
Clear security docs and status pages (example: OpenAI Security).
Bug bounty and red-teaming programs targeting session and token abuse cases.

A Practical Checklist You Can Share

Enforce SSO + phishing-resistant MFA for AI tools
Rotate all tokens/keys tied to AI automations
Block unmanaged devices from accessing AI platforms
DLP for secrets and source code in browsers and prompts
Dark web monitoring for your domains and brand
Offboard shared “access code” usage; move to named accounts
Run a “stolen chat export” tabletop with IR, Legal, and Comms
Educate users: don’t paste secrets; use vaults; report suspicious prompts

FAQs

Q: Were ChatGPT and OmniGPT themselves hacked? A: Listings on BreachForums claim access to data and codes, but underground claims can mix fresh and recycled data. In many cases, user devices infected with info-stealer malware are the true source. Treat the risk as real and execute the mitigations outlined here while awaiting official statements from the platforms.

Q: What is BreachForums? A: It’s an underground marketplace where cybercriminals buy and sell stolen data, access, and tools. Background: BreachForums (Wikipedia).

Q: How can I tell if my account is compromised? A: Look for login alerts from new locations/devices, unrecognized chat activity, changed email or MFA settings, or unexpected API usage/charges. Proactively log out all sessions, reset your password, and enable phishing-resistant MFA.

Q: Are SMS codes still safe? A: SMS is better than nothing but vulnerable to SIM swapping and interception. Prefer app-based TOTPs, and best of all, passkeys or hardware security keys aligned with NIST SP 800-63B and FIDO.

Q: Can stolen chats really hurt a business? A: Yes. Chats often contain code, credentials, customer context, and strategy. Attackers can use this to phish employees, pivot into systems with leaked keys, or extort the organization.

Q: Do prompts and chats get used to train models? A: Policies vary by provider and plan. Many enterprise offerings don’t train on your data by default. Review your vendor’s data usage and retention statements and choose enterprise tiers with strong privacy guarantees.

Q: What should developers do right now? A: Rotate any keys exposed in chats, scrub secrets from histories if possible, use a secrets manager, and implement least-privilege scopes for any AI integrations. Add repo and CI/CD secret scanners and rotate tokens on a schedule.

Q: How should companies watch BreachForums safely? A: Use established threat intelligence vendors or your MSSP. Avoid direct interaction with illicit markets; coordinate with legal and law enforcement if necessary.

The Bottom Line

AI platforms have become high-value targets because they concentrate exactly the kind of context attackers crave. Whether the recent BreachForums listings stem from direct platform compromise or widespread user device theft, the outcome is the same: elevated risk of account takeovers, sensitive data exposure, and downstream attacks.

Take decisive steps now—enforce phishing-resistant MFA, rotate keys, tighten session controls, harden endpoints, and govern how your organization uses AI. Pair that with monitoring (including dark web intel) and clear user education. The organizations that treat AI like any other critical business system—complete with identity, data, and device controls—will weather incidents far better than those that don’t.

If you use AI, you’re in the security business. Operate accordingly.

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Hackers Are Selling Stolen ChatGPT and OmniGPT Data on BreachForums — What Happened and How to Protect Yourself

The BreachForums Listings: What’s Being Claimed

Why This Matters: The Real Risks Behind “AI Account” Breaches

What We Know vs. What’s Unclear