**Millions of AI Chat Messages Exposed in App Data Leak**
The dark side of artificial intelligence has been exposed once again, as millions of private chat messages from a popular mobile app were found to be accessible online.
Chat & Ask AI, which boasts over 50 million users across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, was found to have a misconfigured backend using Google Firebase. This vulnerability allowed an independent security researcher, known only by his handle "Harry," to access approximately 300 million messages tied to more than 25 million users.
The exposed database contained not just chat prompts, but also complete conversation histories tied to real users. The conversations revealed deeply personal and disturbing requests, including questions about how to painlessly kill oneself, write suicide notes, make meth, and hack other apps.
Harry analyzed a smaller sample of 60,000 users and over one million messages to confirm the scope of the issue. He noted that many users treat AI chats like private journals or therapists, sharing sensitive information without realizing it may be stored insecurely.
Chat & Ask AI is not a standalone artificial intelligence model; rather, it acts as a wrapper for large language models built by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. While these companies operate the underlying models, Chat & Ask AI handles the storage of user data.
Cybersecurity experts point out that this type of Firebase misconfiguration is a well-known weakness, making it easy for outsiders to gain authenticated access to the app's database.
**What Happens When You Share with AI Apps?**
Many people assume their chats with AI tools are private, but the truth is, these conversations can be accessed by anyone with the right credentials. Even without names attached, chat histories can reveal mental health struggles, illegal behavior, work secrets, and personal relationships.
Once exposed, that data can be copied, scraped, and shared forever, putting users at risk of identity theft, harassment, or even physical harm.
**How to Stay Safe When Using AI Apps**
You don't have to stop using AI tools entirely to protect yourself. By making a few informed choices, you can lower your risk while still benefiting from these apps when they're helpful:
- Be Mindful of Sensitive Topics: Before sharing deeply personal struggles, medical concerns, financial details, or questions that could create legal risk if exposed, understand how the app stores and protects your data.
- Research the App Before Installing: Check who operates the app, its availability history, and whether its privacy policy clearly explains user data storage and protection.
- Assume Conversations May Be Stored: Treat chats as potentially permanent records rather than temporary messages, even if an app claims to be private.
- Limited Account Linking and Sign-ins: Avoid linking AI tools to primary accounts used for work, banking, or personal communication.
- Review App Permissions and Data Controls: Disable unnecessary permissions and enable data deletion options when available.
- Use a Data Removal Service: Consider using a service that actively monitors and erases your personal information from hundreds of websites to reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information on the dark web.
**The Risk Remains**
AI chat apps are moving fast, but security is still lagging behind. Until stronger protections become standard, users need to treat AI chats with caution and limit what they share. The convenience of these tools must be weighed against the risk of exposing sensitive information.
So, do you assume your AI chats are private? Has this story changed how much you're willing to share with these apps?
Share your thoughts by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.
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