A Cautionary Tale: How My Chat History Got Leaked

+How to Keep Your Online Chats Private - By Akash Mittal+

It was a regular day at work when I was chatting with one of my colleagues over ChatGPT. We were joking around about our boss and how he always micromanages us. The conversation was light-hearted and silly, but I didn't want anyone to see it. That's why I decided to use the "Disappearing Messages" feature to keep our chat private.

However, the next day, I saw my boss standing in front of my cubicle with a stern face. He showed me a screenshot of our chat and asked me to explain myself. I was shocked! I had no idea how he got his hands on our conversation.

Later, I found out that ChatGPT uses algorithms to scan conversations for specific keywords that could help advertisers target users. Unfortunately, our conversation was flagged for containing the word "boss," and that's how my chat history got leaked.

This incident made me realize the importance of keeping my chats private. Here are some tips that I've learned:

Tips to Keep Your Online Chats Private:

  1. Use End-to-End Encryption: End-to-end encryption is a security measure that encrypts messages at the sender's end and decrypts them at the receiver's end. This means that no one, not even the service provider, can read your messages.
  2. Disable Cloud Backup: Some chat apps automatically backup your messages to the cloud, which can be a security risk. If your cloud account gets hacked, your messages can be easily accessed. To disable cloud backup, go to the app settings and turn it off.
  3. Use Self-Destructing Messages: Self-destructing messages are a great way to keep your chats private. These messages automatically disappear after a certain period of time, leaving no traces behind.

Remember, keeping your chats private is important to protect your personal information and sensitive conversations. Always use secure and private chat apps that prioritize your privacy.

Akash Mittal Tech Article

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