OpenAI has confirmed that its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, is experiencing intermittent outages due to a series of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. The disruptions, which have affected both the chatbot and its associated API, were first noted on OpenAI’s status page following initial service failures.
The pioneering AI tool, known for its conversational prowess, began showing signs of distress as users encountered error messages when attempting to interact with the chatbot. OpenAI, after observing the abnormal traffic patterns indicative of a DDoS attack, took immediate action to mitigate the issue. Despite their efforts, which included the implementation of several countermeasures, the service faced ongoing instability.
In a report by Bleeping Computer, it was detailed that users were met with a generic error message during the outages, indicating a failure in generating responses. This has raised concerns about the robustness of AI services in the face of cyber threats.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, the hacker group Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility for the attacks via their Telegram channel. The group, also known as Storm-1359, cited multiple reasons for targeting OpenAI, including the company’s affiliations with Israel and the alleged use of AI in military applications and surveillance.
Anonymous Sudan’s proclamation on Telegram also accuses ChatGPT of exhibiting bias in the context of Israeli and Palestinian relations. The group has a history of cyber activism, with previous attacks launched against various American companies and even the messaging platform Telegram, which they use for communication.
Founded in January 2023, Anonymous Sudan has rapidly gained notoriety for its cyberattacks. Their actions have extended to disrupting services of major corporations, including a notable attack on Microsoft’s suite of services.
