Google warns Gmail users of potential hack by govt-backed attackers

Those who received the warning include journalists and activists

Google caused the internet to panic after it sent its Gmail users an email, warning that some state-sponsored hackers might be trying to break into their accounts.

The alert reads: "Government-backed attackers may be trying to steal your password."

Most of the people receiving the warning from Google are journalists and activists, including New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, and Stanford University professor Michael McFaul, among others.

A number of liberal writers, me included, seem to have gotten this notice yesterday. https://t.co/OROGP1qbDF

— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) November 23, 2016

And here we are. pic.twitter.com/Vv4cjLI5gJ

— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) November 23, 2016

Not this again! Dear Kremlin, please stop. pic.twitter.com/BxhMDvpncf

— Michael McFaul (@McFaul) November 23, 2016

The alert is alarming as security experts warned that a Russian-government linked group, Cozy Bear, started attacking US-based policy think tanks, within hours of Donald Trump’s presidential election victory to seek information on the incoming administration.



Many users reported that Google displayed banners when account holders logged in. One of the red banners included large white text, stating: "Warning: Google may have detected government-backed attackers trying to steal your password."

https://twitter.com/AkinUnver/status/801432108791164928

"Warning: Google may have detected government-backed attackers trying to steal your password." Not nice when you see that in your inbox.

— Levan Tsutskiridze (@LTsutskiridze) November 23, 2016

However, these warnings are not new. Google has been advising users of government-backed attacks since 2012. In March this year, the search engine giant issued a full page warning regarding a similar attack.

Over 412 million adult-website credentials hacked

Talking to Mashable, a Google spokesperson said, "We send these warnings out of an abundance of caution — they do not indicate that a user's account has already been compromised or that a more widespread attack is occurring when they receive the notice."

Urging users to be alert, not alarmed, the spokesperson added: "Anyone that receives it should follow the instructions, and we further recommend that all users routinely do a Google Account Security Checkup".