Internet Law

Google Warns Gmail Users, Says China-Based Hackers are Reading High-Profile Content

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Likely due to their falling for phishing schemes, a number of Gmail users are subject to having their email read by China-based hackers, Google Inc. is warning.

In an Official Google Blog post today alerting Gmail users to be careful about security, the company says it has detected such schemes focused on high-profile communicators such as government officials and journalists from the United States and other countries.

While it says it has stopped the hackers on this front and notified victims and government authorities, Google urges users to be especially careful and urges them to implement a two-step verification process that uses a phone and second password. That system, the blog post says, protected “some accounts” from the hack attack.

A New York Times (reg. req.) article provides additional details.

Hat tip: Security (Ars Technica)

Updated at 6:20 p.m. to link to New York Times article.

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