OpenAI has announced the introduction of Lockdown Mode and Elevated Risk labels for ChatGPT, marking a significant step forward in AI security as the company addresses growing concerns about prompt injection attacks and data exfiltration risks. The new security features, unveiled on February 13, 2026, are designed to protect high-risk users and organizations from sophisticated cyber threats targeting AI systems.
What is ChatGPT Lockdown Mode?
Lockdown Mode is an advanced, optional security setting specifically designed for highly security-conscious users, including executives and security teams at prominent organizations. According to OpenAI, the feature “tightly constrains how ChatGPT can interact with external systems to reduce the risk of prompt injection–based data exfiltration.”
The security mode deterministically disables certain tools and capabilities that adversaries could potentially exploit to extract sensitive data from users’ conversations or connected applications. For example, web browsing in Lockdown Mode is limited to cached content only, preventing live network requests from leaving OpenAI’s controlled network environment.
Addressing Prompt Injection Vulnerabilities
Prompt injection attacks represent an emerging cybersecurity threat where malicious actors attempt to mislead conversational AI systems into following unauthorized instructions or revealing confidential information. As AI systems become more integrated with web services and connected applications, these attack vectors have become increasingly sophisticated.
“As AI systems take on more complex tasks—especially those that involve the web and connected apps—the security stakes change,” OpenAI stated in their announcement. The company emphasized that while these protections may not be necessary for most users, they provide crucial safeguards for individuals and organizations handling sensitive information.
Enterprise-Grade Security Features
Lockdown Mode is currently available for ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Edu, ChatGPT for Healthcare, and ChatGPT for Teachers. Workspace administrators can enable the feature through role-based access controls, allowing organizations to implement granular security policies based on user roles and responsibilities.
The security enhancement builds upon OpenAI’s existing enterprise-grade protections, including sandboxing, URL-based data exfiltration safeguards, monitoring and enforcement systems, and comprehensive audit logs. Organizations retain control over which applications and specific actions within those apps remain available to users operating in Lockdown Mode.
Elevated Risk Labels for Transparency
Alongside Lockdown Mode, OpenAI has introduced standardized “Elevated Risk” labels across ChatGPT, ChatGPT Atlas, and Codex. These labels provide clear guidance to users about features that may introduce additional security risks, enabling informed decision-making about AI tool usage.
The labeling system appears in various contexts, such as when developers grant network access to Codex for web-based documentation lookup. Users receive clear explanations about what changes when enabling these features, what risks may be introduced, and when such access is appropriate for their use case.
Industry Impact and Market Response
The introduction of Lockdown Mode reflects the broader cybersecurity challenges facing the AI industry as large language models become more prevalent in enterprise environments. Security experts have increasingly warned about the potential for AI systems to become vectors for data breaches and corporate espionage.
The timing of this announcement coincides with growing regulatory scrutiny of AI safety measures and increasing demand from enterprise customers for robust security controls. Major corporations have been hesitant to fully integrate AI tools into sensitive workflows without adequate protection against data leakage and unauthorized access.
Future Availability and Development
OpenAI plans to make Lockdown Mode available to consumer users in the coming months, expanding access beyond enterprise customers. The company has indicated that it will continue updating which features carry Elevated Risk labels as security advances mitigate various threats.
“We continue to invest in strengthening our safety and security safeguards, especially for novel, emerging, or growing risks,” OpenAI stated. The company plans to remove Elevated Risk labels from features once security improvements sufficiently address the associated risks for general use.
What This Means for Organizations
For enterprises considering AI adoption, Lockdown Mode represents a significant advancement in addressing security concerns that have previously limited AI deployment in sensitive environments. The feature enables organizations to leverage AI capabilities while maintaining strict control over data exposure and external system interactions.
Security professionals view this development as a positive step toward establishing industry standards for AI security controls. The granular nature of the restrictions and the transparency provided through risk labeling align with enterprise security best practices and compliance requirements.
The introduction of these security features positions OpenAI as a leader in responsible AI deployment, potentially influencing how other AI providers approach security and risk management in their own platforms.
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