Billions of Gmail users have been put on alert after Google confirmed a major hacking campaign is underway.
According to Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, the attacks trace back to a breach in Salesforce’s cloud platform, which opened the door for hackers to go after Google accounts. The attackers are using classic social engineering tricks — mostly pretending to be IT support staff — to fool employees into giving away access.
Google first flagged this activity back in June, but it now looks like the group is planning to push things further. Reports suggest they may even launch a data leak site to pressure victims through extortion.
What makes this dangerous is how effective the fake IT support calls have been in getting people to hand over details. It’s a reminder that not every cyberattack relies on malware — sometimes a convincing phone call is all it takes.
🔒 How to Protect Yourself
- Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) on your Gmail and any connected accounts.
- Never share login details over email, phone, or chat — real IT support will not ask for your password.
- Check sender domains before clicking links or downloading files.
- Be suspicious of “urgent” requests — hackers often create panic to make you act fast.
- Report suspicious activity directly inside Gmail by using the “Report phishing” option.
Stay alert — cybercriminals are getting smarter, but simple steps can go a long way in keeping your accounts safe.
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