Google Warning Journalists, Professors About State-Sponsored Attacks on Their Accounts

Advertisement
By Shekhar Thakran | Updated: 25 November 2016 18:05 IST
Highlights
  • Google's spokesperson says that the warnings might have been delayed
  • Google says attackers were backed by government
  • Google has suggested measures to enhance account security
Google Warning Journalists, Professors About State-Sponsored Attacks on Their Accounts

Certain public figures including notable journalists and professors from the US have reportedly started receiving security warnings by Google that says that their accounts were under attack by government-backed attackers.

The notable personalities among those who were warned by Google include New York Times columnist and Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, New York Magazine reporter Jonathan Chait, former US diplomat and Stanford University professor Michael McFaul, GQ correspondent Keith Olbermann, and Atlantic magazine writer Jon Lovett, as per a report by Ars Technica.

The security warning, with the title "Government-backed attackers may be trying to steal your password", reads, "There's a chance this is a false alarm, but we believe we detected government-backed attackers trying to steal your password. This happens to 0.1 percent of all Gmail users. We can't reveal what tipped us off because the attackers will take note and change their tactics, but if they are successful at some point, they could access your data or take other actions using your account."

The search giant then goes on to recommend ways to enhance the security of user account by setting up a security key or installing password alert.

Advertisement

Some users who have received the warning have reportedly claimed that their accounts are already protected by two-factor authentication.

Speaking to Ars Technica, a Google spokesperson said that the recent warnings might be a result of the hacking attempts made on user accounts over last month or so, and pointed to a Gmail Help forum post that fully details the issue. The spokesperson told the publication that Google delays these warning to "prevent those behind the attacks from learning researchers' sources and methods for detecting the attacks"

Advertisement

Ars Technica suggests that the warnings might have arose out of a spear phishing campaign that was reportedly launched by Russian hackers a mere six hours after Donald Trump won the US presidential election, and was disclosed by security research firm Volexity.

 

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Advertisement
Popular Mobile Brands
  1. Poco F7 5G India Launch Today: How to Watch, Expected Price and Features
  2. Vivo X200 FE Compact Smartphone Launched With 6,500mAh Battery
  3. Apple Releases iOS 26 Beta 2 Update for iPhone With These New Features
  4. Vivo T4 Lite 5G India Launch Set for Today: Expected Price and Features
  5. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 Prices Leaked Ahead of Launch
  6. Oppo K13x 5G With 6,000mAh Battery Launched in India: See Price
  7. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 Event for Galaxy Z Foldables Set for This Date
  8. Nothing Phone 3a Pro 5G Long Term Review: A Blend of Style, Speed, and Power
  9. Kubera OTT Release Reportedly Revealed: Where to Watch Dhanush Starrer Movie Online?
  10. AI+ Pulse, AI+ Nova 5G India Launch Timeline, Design and Colours Revealed
  1. iPhone 17 Display Size Leaked by Case Manufacturer; Suggests Major Upgrade
  2. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 Prices Leaked Ahead of July 9 Launch
  3. iOS 26 Beta 2 Update for iPhone With More Blur in Control Centre, Bug Fixes Rolling Out
  4. Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2025 Event Set for July 9; Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7 to Be Unveiled
  5. Poco F7 5G Launch in India Today: How to Watch Livestream, Expected Price, Specifications
  6. ‘Ghost’ Plume Found Beneath Oman May Explain India’s Ancient Tectonic Shift
  7. Blue Origin’s Crewed Suborbital Launch Delayed Again Due to Weather Conditions
  8. Green Rooftops Could Help Cities Like Shanghai Filter Out Tons of Microplastics from Rainwater
  9. SpaceX to Launch Over 150 Memorial DNA Capsules into Orbit on Celestis’ Perseverance Flight
  10. Rubin Observatory to Unveil First Cosmic Images with World’s Largest Digital Camera
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.