OpenAI announces new advanced security for ChatGPT accounts, including a partnership with Yubico

The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. The first StrictlyVC of 2026 hits SF on April 30. Tickets are going fast. Register now. TechCrunch Desktop Logo TechCrunch Mobile Logo LatestStartupsVentureAppleSecurityAIApps EventsPodcastsNewsletters SearchSubmit Site Search Toggle Mega Menu Toggle Topics Latest OpenAI announces new advanced security for ChatGPT accounts, including a partnership with Yubico Lucas Ropek 11:20 AM PDT · April 30, 2026 OpenAI is getting serious about account security. The company on Thursday launched Advanced Account Security, a set of opt-in protections for ChatGPT users designed for high-value individuals — but available to anyone who wants them. As part of that new program, digital security provider Yubico announced it has partnered with OpenAI to link two new security key products to ChatGPT accounts. The company said the partnership was designed to protect users from the threat of phishing, which is considered to be a growing threat for chatbot users. The two companies are releasing a pair of “co-branded” YubiKeys — dubbed the YubiKey C NFC and the YubiKey C Nano. OpenAI has suggested that AAS is a good fit for political dissidents, journalists, researchers, and elected officials — people who engage in politically charged and risky work. One would assume that it might make sense for enterprise users, whose corporate secrets are squirreled away in ChatGPT sessions. “Ultimately, our intent is to drastically reduce the threat of unauthorized access to sensitive data in OpenAI accounts worldwide,” Yubico CEO Jerrod Chong said in press release announcing the deal. Security keys are small pieces of hardware that can be tied to digital accounts and enacted through a computer’s USB ports. A unique cryptographic identifier lives on the key, which allows only the person in possession of it to log into a connected account. Techcrunch event Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410. Meet your next investor or portfolio startup at Disrupt Your next round. Your next hire. Your next breakout opportunity. Find it at TechCrunch Disrupt 2026, where 10,000+ founders, investors, and tech leaders gather for three days of 250+ tactical sessions, powerful introductions, and market-defining innovation. Register now to save up to $410. San Francisco, CA | October 13-15, 2026 REGISTER NOW If the threat of phished ChatGPT accounts may seem somewhat abstract, there is a growing body of literature showing that bad actors are increasingly targeting chatbot users. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for extortion-worthy information and, given the intimate nature of most chatbot conversations, there is plenty of fodder when it comes to both enterprise and personal-level users. Digital security is also becoming a bigger focus of the AI industry. Several weeks ago, Anthropic announced a new cybersecurity model called Mythos. Perhaps seeking to steal some of its competitor’s thunder, OpenAI has also made a number of announcements related to digital security. Thursday’s news of the Yubico partnership followed OpenAI’s announcement that it’s launching a new framework for digital defense. Of course, a security-key-enabled account does offer stronger protection, but it comes with a tradeoff: if the key is lost, OpenAI won’t be able to help recover access. In practice, that means conversations could be lost for good. When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence. Lucas Ropek Senior Writer, TechCrunch April 30 San Francisco, CA StrictlyVC kicks off the year in SF. Register now for unfiltered fireside chats and VC insights with leaders from Uber, Replit, Eclipse, and more. Plus, high-value connections that actually move the needle. Tickets are limited. 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