OpenAI unveils Lockdown Mode to protect sensitive data from prompt injection attacks

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Summary

OpenAI announced Lockdown Mode, a new feature for ChatGPT that provides additional protection against prompt injection attacks by disabling live web browsing, image retrieval, deep research, and agent mode. The feature is designed for users handling sensitive data and is rolling out to Business and eligible personal accounts.

Even with Lockdown Mode, ChatGPT could be still vulnerable to prompt injections, but the goal is to reduce the likelihood that sensitive data gets shared in the process.
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# OpenAI unveils Lockdown Mode to protect sensitive data from prompt injection attacks | TechCrunch Source: [https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/06/openai-unveils-lockdown-mode-to-protect-sensitive-data-from-prompt-injection-attacks/](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/06/openai-unveils-lockdown-mode-to-protect-sensitive-data-from-prompt-injection-attacks/) In Brief Posted: 1:32 PM PDT · June 6, 2026 ![](https://techcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/GettyImages-2201630077.jpg?w=1024)**Image Credits:**sarayut Thaneerat / Getty ImagesOpenAI[announced](https://help.openai.com/en/articles/20001061-lockdown-mode)a new feature that it says will provide additional protection from prompt injection attacks, where malicious chatbot instructions are hidden in webpages and other content sources\. Among other things, Lockdown Mode will disable live web browsing \(so you can only access cached content\), the retrieval and display of images from the web \(you can still generate images\), deep research, and agent mode\. The company says that even with Lockdown Mode turned on, ChatGPT could still be vulnerable to prompt injections — which could, for example, “appear in cached web content or in an uploaded file, and could still affect the behavior or accuracy of a response\.” But the goal is to reduce the likelihood that sensitive data gets shared in the process\. “Lockdown Mode is**not**intended for everyone,” OpenAI says\. “It is designed for people and organizations that handle sensitive data and want stricter protection from data exfiltration risks related to prompt injection\.” The company says it’s currently rolling Lockdown Mode out to self\-serve ChatGPT Business accounts, as well as eligible personal accounts\. ### Newsletters Subscribe for the industry’s biggest tech news ## Related ## Latest in AI

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