Warning to all 1.8bn Gmail users over password hack
Share this @internewscast.com

Gmail users have been hit by a torrent of phishing scams in recent months — but Google says don’t panic if you fall for one.

Even if you’re locked out of your account by one of these password-stealing scams, the tech giant says you can still regain access for up to a week.

Users simply need to make sure they have a recovery phone number or email configured in their accounts, which will enable them to answer security questions and confirm their identity.

So anyone who doesn’t have these backups enabled should do so now, says Google. 

The public service announcement comes just weeks after Google confirmed a ‘sophisticated’ attack targeting all of its 1.8 billion Gmail users.

The phishing scam was first reported by Nick Johnson, a developer for the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum.

Johnson posted a screenshot of an email that seemed to originate from a valid Google address, asserting that he had received a subpoena and was required to surrender access to his account.

A Google representative informed DailyMail.com: ‘We are aware of this type of targeted attack from this threat actor and have implemented protections to close this path for misuse.’

Google has created a way for you to regain control of your hacked Gmail account ¿ but you only have seven days to act

Google has created a way for you to regain control of your hacked Gmail account — but you only have seven days to act 

The phishing scam was first reported by Nick Johnson, a developer for the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum

The phishing scam was first reported by Nick Johnson, a developer for the cryptocurrency platform Ethereum

‘In the meantime, we encourage users to adopt two-factor authentication and passkeys, which provide strong protection against these kinds of phishing campaigns.’

Johnson said clicking the fraudulent link in the email took him to a ‘very convincing ‘support portal’ page.’ 

He then clicked ‘Upload additional documents’ and ‘View case,’ and both links took him to ‘exact duplicates’ of legitimate Google pages.

These pages asked Johnson to sign into his Google account. 

‘From there, presumably, they harvest your login credentials and use them to compromise your account; I haven’t gone further to check,’ he explained. 

He noted that the nefarious email passed the DKIM signature check, which is used to verify that parts of an email haven’t been altered on its way to your inbox, and that Gmail displayed it without any warnings. 

‘It even puts it in the same conversation as other, legitimate security alerts, he added. 

Google said that it has shut down the mechanism that allowed this method of attack to work, and recently shared guidance on spotting and avoiding email scams. 

‘Google will not ask for any of your account credentials — including your password, one-time passwords, confirm push notifications, etc. — and Google will not call you,’ the tech giant said.

Phishing attacks aim to get users to share their personal information with hackers, which they can use to steal victims' identity or money (STOCK)

Phishing attacks aim to get users to share their personal information with hackers, which they can use to steal victims’ identity or money (STOCK)

Phishing attacks like this one aim to get users to share their personal information with hackers, which they can use to steal victims’ identity or money. 

The goal is to make the devious message appear as legitimate as possible to trick users into believing they’re sharing their information with a trusted entity.

That’s why the hackers behind this Gmail attack used Google Sites to craft their scam, ‘because they know people will see the domain is http://google.com and assume it’s legit,’ Johnson explained.

Phishing messages typically use a generic greeting, inform you that there is an urgent issue that cannot be resolved without your action, and invite you to click on a link

Phishing messages typically use a generic greeting, inform you that there is an urgent issue that cannot be resolved without your action, and invite you to click on a link

If you use a password to log into your Gmail account, then unwittingly share it with a hacker, there’s nothing stopping them from breaking in. 

It’s as simple as using your password and a 2FA code on their own device to access the account. 

But using a passkey and 2FA makes it much harder for hackers to break in.

A passkey is a system-generated, highly secure login code cannot easily be guessed, stolen or phished. 

It only works on the physical device it’s linked to, which means hackers can’t use it to gain access to your account on their devices. 

In addition to swapping your password for a passkey, you can learn to spot the telltale signs of a phishing attack to protect your online accounts. 

Even though these scams are getting harder to identify, there are some details that will give them away. 

Phishing messages typically use a generic greeting, inform you that there is an urgent issue that cannot be resolved without your action, and invite you to click on a link.

While legitimate companies like Google may communicate with users via email, they won’t send you a link to resolve issues like updating your login or payment information.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Market Shift: 20% of Sellers Opt to Reduce Home Prices

Waves of concern are sweeping through the housing market as sellers are…

Seventy Britons Risk Decade-Long Jail Term in UAE for Alleged Drone Photography Over Iran

A startling number of British nationals—approximately 70—have been arrested in the United…

Wealthy Australian Businesswoman Shares Straightforward Advice for Fellow Aussies

A self-proclaimed ‘career enthusiast’ has voiced criticism towards Australians lamenting the rising…

Partner of Deceased Man Calls for Enhanced Safety Measures on Grindr Following Alleged Blackmail Incident

A man is urging Grindr to reconsider its stance on user anonymity…

Tragic Family Murder-Suicide: Unraveling the Heartbreaking Story Behind a Devastating Loss

A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded in a quiet Connecticut town as a man…

Woke Expert Advises Against Using ‘Dumped’ to Describe Breakups

The emotional turmoil that often follows the end of a romantic relationship…

$533 Million Jackpot Winner Sells $11 Million Property

Amid reports of instability within his real estate enterprise, the winner of…

Treasure Hunter Conceals ‘Ship of Gold’ Loot Location While Serving Prison Sentence

Is Tommy Thompson a con artist who deceived his investors and concealed…

Kim Novak Critiques Sydney Sweeney Casting: Why She’s ‘Totally Wrong’ for the Biopic Role

Kim Novak recently criticized the casting of Sydney Sweeney in the forthcoming…

Trump Allies Clash Over Stephen Miller’s Behind-the-Scenes Influence: Insider Revelations

Stephen Miller, known for his no-nonsense approach, was instrumental in Kristi Noem’s…

Historic Senate Primary Spending Heats Up with Intense CPAC Showdown

In a display of enthusiastic support, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was…

Kim Kardashian Absent from Lewis Hamilton’s F1 Race After Week-Long Visit

Kim Kardashian was noticeably absent from the Formula 1 paddock during the…