Google Alerts Gmail Users After Blocking Phishing Attack By Alleged Russian Government-Backed Hackers

[Mary Wilson]

10/08/21 AT 2:30 AM
By Nica Osorio

Search engine and tech giant Google has issued a security warning to over 14,000 Gmail users after it discovered and blocked a significantly high number of phishing emails sent by an alleged Russian-backed hacking group.

In late September, Google discovered "a large volume of Gmail users (approx 14,000) across a wide variety of industries" being targeted by a campaign launched by APT28 -- a threat group that has been active in the cyber world since 2004.

"This particular campaign comprised 86% of the batch of warnings we sent for this month," Shane Huntley, Director of Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG) revealed Wednesday.

https://www.ibtimes.com/google-alerts-gmail-users-after-blocking-phishing-attack-alleged-russian-government-3312209

[Mary Wilson]

RUSSIAN HACKERS SUPPOSEDLY LEAKED 5 MILLION GMAIL PASSWORDS, BUT GOOGLE SAYS NOT POSSIBLE

SEP 12, 2014 10:50:46 IST
TECH2 NEWS STAFF

According to news reports, close to 4.93 million Gmail and username passwords were leaked on a Russian bitcoin forum but Google has come out and denied that such an attack took place. The news was first reported by a Russian website CNews, and later picked up media across the world.

However, according to a report on The Next Web Google says that this isn't a security breach of any sort. A Google spokesperson told the site, “We have no evidence that our systems have been compromised, but whenever we become aware that accounts may have been, we take steps to help those users secure their accounts.”

The report adds that files have been removed from the forum and that an analysis of the files shows that it includes English, Spanish, and Russian accounts.

It's not clear if this leaked accounts are from phishing sites or due to a hack attack or are outdated accounts no longer in use.

https://www.firstpost.com/tech/news-analysis/russian-hackers-supposedly-leaked-5-million-gmail-passwords-but-google-says-not-possible-3656311.html

[Mary Wilson]

Well, as of this morning my Google Gmail account has disappeared. Blank Gmail.
(past gov employee, victim of 2015 gov hack)

Anyone else affected? Any additional info and/help greatly appreciated. Thank!