Gmail. Image: Darren Grove/Shutterstock
In a day that saw a particularly effective phishing attack target Google Docs, tech giant Google has revealed new protections on Android.
A widespread phishing attack has circulated online, luring victims in with a prompt to sign into Google Docs.
Google responded quickly and efficiently, with security protocols coming into effect within hours of the attack’s emergence.
However, behind the scenes, Google was already working on further protection from such attacks – specifically in its Gmail client.
Now, when Android users click on a suspicious link in a message, Gmail will show a warning prompt, helping you keep your account safe.
Users can ignore the warning, of course, but the added filter is aimed at helping people take a moment before blindly clicking on attachments or links.
The new warning. Image: Google
“While not all affected email will necessarily be dangerous, we encourage you to be extra careful about clicking on links in messages that you’re not sure about,” it said in a statement.
“And with this update, you’ll have another tool to make these kinds of decisions.”
Earlier today (4 May), we reported on Glasswall’s email survey report, which found that 82pc of the 1,000 respondents usually, or always, open email attachments if they appear to be from a known contact, despite the prevalence of well-known sophisticated social engineering attacks.
Simon Taylor, VP of product at Glasswall, noted the growth in productivity suites such as Google Docs, and how they’re “the lifeblood of today’s internet users”.
Cyber-criminals, thus, target these thoroughfares of activity.
Gmail. Image: Darren Grove/Shutterstock
