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Feb 9, 2021 · We aggregated and analyzed all of the phishing and malware campaigns that Gmail automatically blocked over a five-month period to identify patterns. We found that users in the United States were...
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By Cesar Cadenas
published 2 June 2023
Scammers found exploiting a Gmail bug to phish users
(Image credit: Stephen Phillips/Unsplash)
There’s a new Gmail scam making the rounds online as bad actors are taking advantage of the service’s recently launched verification system.
Identifying the fake email was easy enough to do. Plummer shows the header sporting an email address consisting of mostly random letters and numbers ending in a UPS URL. However, hovering over the checkmark displays a window stating the message is coming from a legitimate source.
It’s unknown how the bad actor got around the security checks. Plummer claims there’s a bug in Gmail that scammers are exploiting to trick the platform’s “authoritative stamp of approval”. From there, the bad actors hop through multiple domains before zeroing in on their target.
Since we don’t know when the patch will roll out, it makes sense to protect yourself until then. TechRadar has a couple of guides on how to avoid online phishing scams and how to protect your inbox. We strongly recommend reading both to get a full understanding, but here are some pieces of advice to get you started.
First, double-check the header. If you see a bunch of random letters, numbers, and symbols in the email address, that’s your first clue that something is fishy.
Secondly, double-check the spelling in the header. Some scammers will replace certain characters with a lookalike to trick people. For example, the letter “O” will be replaced with the number “0” or the capital “I” with a lowercase “l” (that's an "L"). Gmail’s default font can make this tough to discern.
Be wary of any emails urging you to share your financial information, whether updating your account details or a refund offer you didn’t ask for.
Of course, don’t click on any links or attachments you don’t recognize.
Also, be sure to check out TechRadar’s list of the best identity theft protection apps for June 2023 to better safeguard your personal details.
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Phishing protections. Many malware and phishing attacks start with an email. Gmail blocks more than 99.9% of spam, phishing attempts, and malware from reaching you. Safe Browsing protects you by identifying dangerous links in email messages and warns you before you visit the site. Proactive alerts.
Oct 3, 2023 · Gmail’s AI-powered defenses stop more than 99.9% of spam, phishing and malware from reaching inboxes and block nearly 15 billion unwanted emails every day. But now, nearly 20 years after Gmail launched, the threats we face are more complex and pressing than ever.
Oct 2, 2024 · We’re committed to protecting people from scams and ensuring you’re safer with Google. We have a long history of automatically protecting you from scams, including leveraging AI to block over 99.9% of phishing emails in Gmail and stop spam calls.
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Oct 30, 2023 · Unique Features of Gmail’s Spam Filter. Google Ecosystem Integration: Gmail’s spam filter benefits from a wide range of data points within the Google ecosystem, boosting its ability to detect threats. Real-time Updates: The filter constantly updates in real-time, ensuring readiness against new email spam techniques.
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