Black Hat Fireside Chat: How ‘enterprise browsers’ serve as a checkpoint to stop ChatGPT leakage – Source: www.lastwatchdog.com

By Byron V. Acohido

For a couple of decades now, the web browser has endured in workplace settings as the primary employee-to-Internet interface. It’s really just assumed to be a given that a browser built for consumers is an acceptable application for employees to use to work.

And despite advances, like sandboxing, browser isolation and secure gateways, the core architecture of web browsers has remained all-too vulnerable to malicious attacks.

There was a lot of buzz at Black Hat USA 2023 about advanced “enterprise browsers.” I visited with Uy Huynh, vice president of solutions engineering at Island.io, to discuss this. For a full drill down please give the accompanying podcast a listen.

Built on the Chromium open source code, Island’s Enterprise Browser recognizes the identity and considers the role of each user—be it an employee, contractor, or HR personnel. This granular visibility aids in rapid onboarding while also bolstering security protocols, Huynh explained.

This can serve as a “last mile” checkpoint to curtail Shadow IT; in particular, the exploding popularity of generative AI.

Guest expert: Uy Huynh, VP of solutions engineering, Island.io

Island’s solution prevents sensitive data from slipping out from a web browser into services like ChatGPT, or through downloads, screen shots, printing or copy/paste.

“With generative AI, you could inadvertently be placing your intellectual property or other sensitive information into large language models that anyone can access,” Huynh warns.

Meanwhile, a specific alert can be communicated to the user, enhancing awareness training, and reinforcing compliance.

“In essence, what we’re trying to do is to offer enterprises granular control over their browser environment,” Huynh says.

Anything that can improve security while preserving a high-quality user experience has a place in networks, going forward. I’ll keep watch and keep reporting.

Pulitzer Prize-winning business journalist Byron V. Acohido is dedicated to fostering public awareness about how to make the Internet as private and secure as it ought to be.

(LW provides consulting services to the vendors we cover.)

August 30th, 2023 | Black Hat Podcasts | For technologists | Podcasts | Top Stories