Gmail Alert: Google Urges 2.5 Billion Users to Reset Passwords
Google Urges 2.5 Billion Gmail Users to Change Passwords Amid Rising Cyber Threats
With more than 2.5 billion active users worldwide, Gmail has become one of the top targets for hackers.
In a recent statement, Google warned that phishing attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with credential theft now accounting for 37% of successful breaches.
What’s more alarming is that attackers are no longer relying solely on fraudulent emails. According to a TechCrunch report cited by Al Arabiya Business, scammers have begun making phone calls and sending fake support emails while posing as Google’s help team to trick users into handing over sensitive information.
Even two-factor authentication (2FA), while effective, is not foolproof. Hackers have been creating fake login pages to capture passwords, Social Security numbers, and other personal data—later using them to bypass security measures.
Passwords: The Weakest Link
Google notes that 64% of users do not update their passwords regularly, leaving their accounts more vulnerable to attacks. To combat this, the company strongly recommends:
Updating passwords immediately and using independent password managers instead of browser storage.
Enabling passkeys (fingerprint, facial recognition, or PIN) alongside or instead of traditional passwords, since these are far more resistant to phishing.
Yet adoption remains slow—only 34% of U.S. users have enabled passkeys so far.
How to Protect Yourself:
Never enter your password on suspicious-looking pages.
Avoid logging in via links, even if they appear to come from Google.
Use an authenticator app to generate one-time codes for 2FA.
Create and rely on a passkey on your device instead of a standard password.
Google’s message is clear: as cybercriminals become more creative, passwords alone are no longer enough to protect accounts at the scale Gmail operates.
