Hackers alert for Google users worldwide issued by the tech giant
In the digital age, it's essential to stay vigilant against potential cyber threats. Here, we'll share some valuable advice from Google on how to verify the legitimacy of emails, protect against scams, and safeguard your personal information.
Firstly, when receiving an email that claims to be from Google, carefully examine the sender's email address. Legitimate emails will come from verified domains such as "@google.com" or "@gmail.com." Be wary of subtle misspellings or extra characters in the address.
Secondly, look for email authentication indicators such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC results in the email headers. Gmail often shows labels like "mailed-by" or "signed-by" with the sender’s Google domain if the email is authenticated. Inspecting full email headers (in Gmail, use "Show original") can confirm if the sending server is truly authorized by Google.
Thirdly, hover over links in the email (without clicking) to verify that the URLs match legitimate Google domains and don't redirect to suspicious sites. Be cautious of signs of phishing, such as generic greetings, urgent requests, grammar mistakes, or unexpected requests for personal information. Reputable companies like Google usually avoid these tactics in automated emails.
To protect against potential scams, follow these guidelines:
- Do not reply to, click links in, or download attachments from suspicious emails, even if they look legitimate at first glance.
- When in doubt, contact Google support directly through official channels, not through information provided in the suspicious email.
- Consider using security tools such as VPNs or email security services that block phishing domains and encrypt traffic for extra protection.
- Regularly update and rotate your email authentication keys (DKIM) if you manage a domain to reduce risks of spoofing.
- If you encounter suspicious emails, avoid interacting with them and consider consulting security professionals or analyzing such emails in sandboxed environments to prevent accidental compromise.
Additionally, Google has warned that August is an active month for hacker and cyber criminal groups. To better protect yourself during this time, follow the guidelines mentioned above and be on high alert.
Recently, the ShinyHunter hacker group has been reported to impersonate Google staff and send emails claiming that users' accounts have been hacked. To avoid falling victim to such scams, double-check links before clicking to ensure they are legitimate, and enable multi-factor authentication for your accounts for added security.
By combining careful verification of sender details and email authentication with cautious behavior around unexpected emails, you can effectively validate legitimate Google emails and protect against scams. Stay safe and secure online!
- In the digital age, it's crucial to keep an eye on not just emails claiming to be from Google, but also general-news and crime-and-justice updates that may contain warnings about cybersecurity threats, such as those from the ShinyHunter group.
- As August is considered an active month for cyber criminals, it's essential to apply the cybersecurity measures suggested by Google, like checking email authenticity and being cautious of suspicious links, not just for Google emails, but also for technology-related news and crime-and-justice updates.
