ChatGPT Mac History: Infostealer Risk & Privacy Concerns

OpenAI's new Computer History feature for ChatGPT could expose your Mac activity to infostealers. This feature turns your computer activity into "memories" that ChatGPT and Codex can use. What it does is build a timeline of your daily computer use, summarizing activity and noting which apps and websites were involved. It replaces an earlier system called Chronicle. The feature uses interaction events and context from macOS accessibility to create these summaries. OpenAI states it does not include screenshots or record audio, and private-mode web browsing is never included. This feature is off by default and requires OpenAI's separate Memories feature to be turned on. It's currently only available through the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and is not offered in the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom. Users can choose which apps and websites contribute and can pause collection at any time. History can also be cleared. OpenAI acknowledges two risks: the memory files are not encrypted, making them readable by other programs, and feeding the model this context increases the chance of prompt injection. This means if you visit a malicious website, ChatGPT or Codex might follow harmful instructions. This feature matters because it introduces significant privacy and security concerns for Mac users.