---
title: WormGPT is ChatGPT, but evil — how much should it worry you?
description: It’s a great day to start the war against chatbots designed to help cybercriminals.
---

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# [WormGPT is ChatGPT, but evil — how much should it worry you?](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/wormgpt-is-chatgpt-but-evil-how-much-should-it-worry-you)

 Written by [Ben Berkley](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/author/ben-berkley) | Jul 19, 2023 10:56:48 PM

You know the trope: Something fishy’s going on with the protagonist, and here comes that tired twist — there’s an evil twin.

Gasp. So surprising.

This latest evil twin reveal will surprise nobody, but it’s pretty jarring all the same — ChatGPT has an evil twin that caters to cybercriminals.

#### **WormGPT…**

… was created by an unknown hacker and launched last month, with its designer calling it ChatGPT’s “biggest enemy.”

OpenAI built ethical guardrails into ChatGPT to prevent malicious activities; WormGPT has none of that.

This huge jerk of a chatbot proudly “lets you do all sorts of illegal stuff,” [per](https://www.pcmag.com/news/wormgpt-is-a-chatgpt-alternative-with-no-ethical-boundaries-or-limitations) *PCMag*.

#### **How does it work?**

Cybersecurity firm SlashNext [put WormGPT to use](https://slashnext.com/blog/wormgpt-the-generative-ai-tool-cybercriminals-are-using-to-launch-business-email-compromise-attacks/):

- Its primary purpose: generating convincing business email compromise (BEC) attacks, which use fake, personalized messages to access sensitive accounts.
- SlashNext found the tool produced “sophisticated” phishing emails that were “remarkably persuasive” and “strategically cunning” with commendable grammar.
- It also confirmed WormGPT has “no ethical boundaries or limitations.”
- Like ChatGPT, the tool is easy to use, meaning cybercriminals with limited experience could find success with it.

… so, that all sucks.

#### **But let’s keep those worries in check?**

Unlike its more responsible sibling, WormGPT isn’t free: Access costs ~$617/year, limiting adoption.

Also slowing its growth: bad word-of-mouth. One buyer on the hacker forum where WormGPT is sold said it’s “not worth any dime.”

And while smarter BEC attacks present a challenge, their threat is nothing new — a leading cybercrime that cost victims [$2.4B](https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/bec-attacks-surge-81-in-2022/) worldwide in 2021, BEC attacks are already a focus for cybersecurity experts.

- Want to prepare yourself? The FBI [offers tips](https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/safety-resources/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/business-email-compromise) on safeguarding accounts.

For now, WormGPT is less an active concern and more a sign of the looming fights ahead as AI increasingly gets in the hands of bad actors.

[View full post](https://hs-sbup.thehustle.co/news/wormgpt-is-chatgpt-but-evil-how-much-should-it-worry-you)

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