How to Block PII and Source Code Uploads to ChatGPT Using EaseFilter SDK

 

The rapid adoption of Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude has supercharged developer productivity, but it has also introduced a massive Data Loss Prevention (DLP) blind spot. Employees routinely upload internal logs, proprietary source code, and documents containing Personally Identifiable Information (PII) to AI chatbots—usually without any malicious intent.

While network-layer solutions and DNS sinkholes can block access entirely, they often disrupt legitimate work or are easily bypassed when developers use personal hotspots. Endpoint data protection is far more robust. By intercepting file access at the kernel level before the browser even reads a sensitive file, you can stop data exfiltration dead in its tracks.

In this post, we will explore how to build a proactive AI DLP solution using the EaseFilter File Control Filter driver SDK to block web browsers from accessing and uploading PII and source code.

The Architecture: Kernel-Level Interception

When a user drags and drops a file into ChatGPT or uses a web upload button, the web browser process (e.g., chrome.exe, msedge.exe) attempts to read the file from the local disk.

EaseFilter SDK installs a Windows minifilter driver that sits directly between the Windows I/O Manager and the file system. This architecture allows your application to:

  1. Monitor I/O requests in real time.
  2. Evaluate context (Which process is asking? What is the file extension? What is inside the file?).
  3. Block the operation by returning a STATUS_ACCESS_DENIED flag before the browser reads a single byte.

Building the DLP Rules with EaseFilter

To stop PII and source code from reaching ChatGPT, we can implement two primary strategies using the EaseFilter SDK:

1. Zero-Trust for Source Code Files

Source code is highly structured and easily identifiable by its file extension (.cs, .py, .cpp, .js). You can create a hard block that prevents any web browser from reading files with these extensions, while allowing trusted IDEs (like devenv.exe or code.exe) to access them normally.

2. Content-Aware Scanning for PII

For general documents (.docx, .csv, .txt) that might contain PII (SSNs, credit card numbers, health records), blocking by extension isn't feasible. Instead, we use EaseFilter's Pre-Operation Callback. When a browser tries to open a document, the SDK pauses the request, allowing your user-mode service to scan the file's contents using Regex or a local NLP engine. If PII is detected, the read request is blocked.

Why EaseFilter is the Right Tool for AI DLP

  • Endpoint Native: Operates entirely on the local machine, meaning it protects data even if the user is disconnected from the corporate VPN.
  • Invisible to the Browser: Because the block happens at the kernel level, you do not need to manage finicky browser extensions or deal with the complexities of breaking and inspecting SSL/TLS traffic.
  • Granular Control: You aren't blocking ChatGPT entirely, which would inevitably frustrate users and hinder productivity. You are simply blocking the exfiltration of sensitive artifacts into it.

Wrapping Up

The key to safely enabling AI in the enterprise is ensuring that security guardrails are frictionless but un-bypassable. By leveraging the EaseFilter SDK, developers can build a robust DLP agent that intercepts file I/O operations, contextually evaluates the risk, and safely blocks PII and source code from ever leaving the endpoint.

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