I Tested Malwarebytes’ ChatGPT App and It’s Really Good at Detecting Scams.
A few months ago, ChatGPT launched its own app store , meaning you can access tools like Photoshop and Apple Music directly from the ChatGPT search window. Now, Malwarebytes has joined the ChatGPT app store , meaning you can get expert help checking web links, emails, text messages, domains, and phone numbers that seem suspicious.
The app is free for everyone, regardless of whether you have a paid ChatGPT subscription. You can activate the tool through the ChatGPT app store or by searching for “Is Malwarebytes a scam?” After using the app for the first time, you can access it again by clicking the “+” button in the pop-up window.
Malwarebytes’ ChatGPT app can scan links, websites, and phone numbers.
You can insert almost anything into a conversation using the Malwarebytes plugin, but scammers often use certain tricks, including links in phishing emails, so these plugins are ideal for testing. I scoured my spam folder to find several URLs for Malwarebytes to test and added several trusted web addresses—just copy the link into the query field and ask the app to evaluate it.
Malwarebytes successfully filtered out fraudulent links from legitimate ones, even when its databases didn’t contain any specific information about the links I provided. When in doubt, it pointed this out, providing a wealth of additional information: for example, one URL was identified as a “legitimate email security and tracking service used by companies to rewrite links,” but which scammers also use to disguise the link’s destination.
You also get a domain name assessment: when presented with a link to a Lifehacker article, the plugin correctly identified it as a legitimate domain with a registered owner, despite the lack of any specific information about the URL. Malwarebytes was also able to detect domain redirection, a trick often used by scammers.
Malwarebytes also allows you to submit phone numbers: when I tested this on several scam calls, the numbers were correctly identified as scammers or at least suspicious. I like how the app explains its operation (for example, how spam call centers work) and offers advice on next steps and security measures.
I also liked that Malwarebytes has built-in ChatGPT memory: if you, like me, post a series of links and numbers in the same chat, it will try to match them all (for example, by explaining why one URL is potentially more dangerous than another).
Malwarebytes ChatGPT app can also view messages and emails.
You can also provide Malwarebytes with text from an email or text message and get it assessed—you can even enter a phone call transcript if you prefer. The plugin will scan the text for phrases commonly used by scammers and alert you to any other suspicious elements.
I tested this on various types of spam text, and again, Malwarebytes performed well in recognizing suspicious elements. As before, if the program detected anything it didn’t think was correct, it explained the reasons and suggested further actions.
The answers also provide detailed information about why various scams are used, why they sometimes work, and how events might unfold—for example, if you received a message purportedly from a family member asking for help, Malwarebytes will tell you why these scams are common and how they are used to steal personal information or money.
It’s an intelligent system that asks you questions about text messages or emails you receive. If it’s unsure, it’ll tell you about additional checks you can perform (for example, checking the reply-to address). However, ChatGPT’s usual obsequiousness is starting to get a little annoying, as it constantly tells you you’re doing everything right and that your suspicions are justified.
The app uses data from the Malwarebytes Threat Intelligence system, so it should provide protection against the latest threats (making it more useful than a Google search or a simple ChatGPT query). At least based on the examples I used, it’s an accurate, comprehensive, and easy-to-use security tool—worth keeping on hand if you encounter potential scams you’re unsure about .
Note: In April 2025, Ziff Davis, Mashable’s parent company, filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging that it infringed Ziff Davis’s copyright in the training and operation of its artificial intelligence systems.