Russian Cybersecurity Expert Warns of AI-Driven Privacy Risks

Storing data on external servers makes public AI tools a potential threat to user privacy, according to a leading Russian specialist.

Artificial intelligence presents growing cybersecurity challenges, especially when personal data is processed through public platforms. Yuri Silaev, head of the Trusted AI Lab at the Russian Technological University, outlined key concerns in an interview with the Moscow City News Agency.

While frequently changing passwords is still helpful, Silaev noted that it no longer guarantees full protection. He recommends creating complex, unique credentials for each service, enabling two-factor authentication, and storing passwords in dedicated apps.

However, he emphasized that the main threat when using AI isn’t account hacking—it’s how and where personal information is transmitted. Users must carefully review access permissions and user agreements before clicking “accept.”

To mitigate risks, the expert advises minimizing the amount of sensitive data shared with public AI tools. He suggests ‘encrypting’ inputs by replacing names and identifiers with neutral placeholders—for instance, signing as 'Client A' or masking account numbers with Xs.

He also encourages the use of data-leak monitoring tools, which alert users when their information appears in open sources.