Fake AI applications posing as ChatGPT and DALL·E hide serious malware threats

App stores are supposed to be reliable and free of malware or fake apps, but this is far from the truth. For every legitimate app that solves a real problem, there are dozens of copycat apps waiting to exploit brand recognition and user trust. We’ve seen it happen with games, productivity tools, and entertainment apps. Now, artificial intelligence has become the latest battleground for digital fraudsters.

The AI ​​boom has created an unprecedented boom in mobile app development, and opportunistic actors are starting to take advantage of it. AI-related mobile applications collectively account for billions of downloads, and the huge user base has attracted a new wave of copies. They appear as popular applications like ChatGPT and DALL·E, but in reality they hide sophisticated spyware capable of stealing data and monitoring users.

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What you need to know about fake AI apps

The fake apps flooding app stores exist on a wide scale of harm, and understanding that range is critical before downloading any AI tools. Take “DALL·E 3 AI Image Generator” on Aptoide. It presents itself as an OpenAI product, complete with branding that mimics the real thing. When you open it, you see a loading screen that looks like an AI model creating an image. But nothing is actually created.

Network analysis by Appknox showed that the app only connects to advertising and analytics services. There is no AI function, just an illusion designed to collect your data for monetization.

Then there are apps like WhatsApp Plus, which are much more dangerous. Disguised as an upgraded version of Meta’s messenger, this application hides an entire malware framework capable of monitoring, credential theft, and continuous execution in the background. It is signed with a fake certificate instead of a legitimate WhatsApp key and uses a tool often used by malware authors to encrypt malicious code.

Once installed, it silently requests extensive permissions, including access to your contacts, SMS, call logs, device accounts and messages. These permissions allow it to intercept one-time passwords, scrape your address book and impersonate you in chats. Hidden libraries keep your code running even after you close the application. Network logs show it uses the domain interface to hide its traffic behind Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud endpoints.

Not every clone is malicious. Some implementations define themselves as unofficial interfaces and connect directly to real APIs. The problem is that you often can’t tell the difference between a harmless cover and a malicious imitation until it’s too late.

Users and businesses are both at risk

The impact of fake AI apps goes beyond frustrated users. For organizations, these copies pose a direct threat to brand reputation, compliance, and data security.

When a malicious app steals credentials while using your brand identity, customers not only lose data, they lose trust as well. Research shows that customers stop purchasing from a brand after a major breach. The average cost of a data breach is now $4.45 million, according to IBM’s 2025 report. In regulated sectors such as finance and healthcare, such breaches can result in GDPR, HIPAA and PCI-DSS violations, with fines of up to 4% of total global sales.

8 steps to protect yourself from fake AI apps

While the threat landscape continues to evolve, there are practical measures you can take to protect yourself from malicious versions and imitators.

1) Install reputable antivirus software

A quality mobile security solution can detect and block malicious apps before they can cause any harm. Modern antivirus software scans applications for suspicious behavior, unauthorized permissions, and known malware signatures. This first line of defense is especially important as fake apps become more sophisticated at concealing their true intentions.

The best way to protect yourself from malicious links that install malware, and potentially access your private information, is to install strong antivirus software on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best antivirus protection winners of 2025 for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS at Cyberguy.com.

2) Use a password manager

Apps like WhatsApp Plus specifically target credentials and can intercept passwords typed directly into fake interfaces. The password manager automatically fills in credentials on legitimate sites and apps only, making it very difficult for fraudsters to obtain your login information through phishing interfaces or fake apps.

Next, check if your email has been exposed in previous breaches. Our #1 password manager pick has a built-in penetration scanner that checks if your email address or passwords have appeared in known leaks. If you discover a match, immediately change any reused passwords and secure those accounts with new, unique credentials.

Check out the best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 at Cyberguy.com.

3) Consider identity theft protection services

Since malicious versions can steal personal information, intercept SMS verification codes, and even impersonate users in chats, identity theft protection provides an additional safety net. These services monitor unauthorized use of your personal information and can alert you if your identity is being misused across various platforms and services.

Identity theft companies can monitor personal information such as your Social Security number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is sold on the dark web or used to open an account. They can also help you freeze your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.

Check out my tips and top picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com.

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4) Enable two-factor authentication everywhere

While some sophisticated malware can intercept SMS codes, 2FA It still adds a critical layer of security. Use authentication apps instead of SMS when possible, as they are harder to hack. Even if a fake app takes over your password, two-factor authentication (2FA) makes it more difficult for attackers to access your accounts.

5) Keep your device and apps updated

Security patches often address vulnerabilities that malicious applications exploit. Regular updates to your operating system and legitimate applications ensure you have the latest protections against known threats. Enable automatic updates when possible to stay protected without having to remember manual checks.

6) Only download from official app stores

Stick to the Apple App Store and Google Play Store instead of third-party marketplaces. While fake apps still appear on official platforms, these stores have security review processes and are more responsive to removing malicious apps as soon as they are identified. Third-party app stores often have minimal or no security checking at all.

7) Check with the developer before downloading

Check the developer name carefully. Official ChatGPT implementations come from OpenAI, not from random developers with similar names. Look at the number of downloads, read recent reviews and be wary of apps with few ratings or reviews that seem generic. Legitimate AI tools from major companies will receive verified developer badges and millions of downloads.

8) Use a data removal service

Even if you avoid downloading fake apps, your personal information may already be circulating on data broker sites that scammers rely on. These intermediaries collect and sell details like your name, phone number, home address, and app usage data, information that cybercriminals can use to craft convincing phishing messages or impersonate you.

Our reliable data removal service scans hundreds of broker databases and automatically submits removal requests for you. Removing your data regularly helps reduce your digital footprint, making it harder for malicious actors and fake app networks to target you.

While no service can guarantee complete removal of your data from the Internet, a data removal service is truly a smart choice. It’s not cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by systematically monitoring and scraping your personal information from hundreds of websites. This gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to clear your personal data from the Internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of fraudsters cross-referencing data from breaches to information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free check to see if your personal information really exists on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

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Key takeaway for Kurt

The AI ​​boom has led to massive innovations, but it has also opened up new attack surfaces built on brand trust. As adoption grows across mobile platforms, organizations must not only secure their own apps but also track how their brand is visible across hundreds of app stores around the world. In a market where there have been billions of downloads of AI apps, copies aren’t coming. They’re already here, hiding behind familiar logos and sleek facades.

Have you ever downloaded a fake AI app without realizing it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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