Take Google’s Critical Security Alerts Seriously: Secure Your Digital Identity

Hackers are getting smarter daily as they find new ways to exploit internet users’ security. This time, they are using the name and security features of the company you trust. They have turned the Google critical security alert, known to warn users about suspicious access, into a phishing scam.

Whenever you receive an email from Google security alert, it may be from a legitimate source telling you about unauthorized access. However, it could also be from a scammer trying to scam you using Google’s name. But there’s always something that can help you spot if it’s a counterfeit or a true email from a Google security alert.

You might be wondering how it is possible that someone can use Google’s name. Don’t worry. We’ve covered everything regarding this scam and answered all your questions, including how to spot and avoid fake Google security alert emails.

What is Google Critical Security Alert?

Google’s critical security alert is one of the security features of Google that warns its users whenever it detects suspicious or unauthorized activity on their account.

The internet search engine sends you these security alerts on the following occasions:

• When Google detects unusual activities on your website, it sends you a security alert. For example, when you or someone else sends many emails from your account.
• When it blocks a suspicious user from viewing your stored passwords.
• When you or someone else logs in to your account on another device that you have never logged into.

Google introduced this alert system to guard its users. However, scammers have found another solution to trick people and change this security system into stealing other people’s personal data.

Is Google Security Alert a Scam?

The Google security alert was mainly introduced to keep users safe and warn them. However, the security alert you receive can be a scam. Hackers exploit Google’s reputation and its users’ trust to scam them by sending fake Google account security warnings.

These warnings are not about suspicious activity or any phishing attacks. However, they are phishing attacks themselves, called phishing tactics, and remained the top-ranked cybercrime in 2020.

You might be thinking, if it can be real or counterfeit, then how can you spot the difference between a true or fake Google critical security alert? Fear not. Let’s move further and discuss it.

How Can You Spot a Fake or Real Google Safety Alert?

You can identify the fake Google alert by considering the following measures:

1. Verify the Sender’s Email Address

Fraudsters use fake emails to scam people. Most counterfeit emails contain numbers, misspellings, letters, and symbols, which you can easily identify, saving you from a cyber attack. Google mostly sends security alert emails via a [email protected] email address.

However, hackers have found a way to spoof Google’s email address and show you the message as if it is from a legitimate source. You can identify the spoofed email address by checking the header.

How Can You Check the Email Header?

You can check the email header on Gmail by clicking on the Show Details option under the email sender’s name. Once you open it, the parts related to fake or legitimate email recognition are mailed by and signed. If both contain the sub-domains of Google, then it’s from a legitimate source.

However, some hackers also use URLs like https//:scam.com/a/google.com. These URLs are not from Google. This is a Google.com named folder on the scam.com website, and the fraudster wants you to click on the link by showing it’s the link from Google.

How Can You Check Headers in Other Email Clients?

You can perform this task and check the full email header of the provider by simply following these steps:

• Go to the Google search bar.
• Enter the email provider’s name, followed by “view email header.”
• Google will show you the full header of the provider.

2. Check Recent Sign-in Activity and Consider the Context

It is the simplest way to identify whether it is a fake Google security alert. If the notification time doesn’t match the time when you receive the security alert, it’s likely a fake email.

Google has access to your device type, location, and time. It mentions all these in the security alert when it detects fishy activity on your account. However, when scammers send you an email, it contains phishing links, phony contact information, and infected attachments.

3. Assess the Tone of the Email

Fake emails contain words that create panic and ask for immediate action. If a security alert contains threatening language or prompts an immediate response, it’s a fake email, and ignoring it is the best option to keep yourself safe from cyberattacks. Google alerts contain professional and informative language.

In addition, they don’t pressure you for an immediate response or provide any sensitive information.

4. Check the URLs and Attachments

We strictly advise you not to click on any link or download any attachments. These links may redirect you to a phishing website, or the files may contain malware that can breach your privacy. However, you can identify whether the email is counterfeit by hovering your cursor over the link or copying the link address.

After pasting it somewhere, the email is fake if the link looks suspicious. In addition, avoid downloading any attachments from the email.

What to Do When You Receive a Real Google Critical Security Alert?

Whenever you receive a Google account security alert, take it seriously and follow these measures to avoid being caught in the scammer’s net.

Examine the Email

When you receive the security alert, don’t panic; wear your detective hat and assess it. Here’s what you should look for:

1. Read the email carefully, and look for any suspicious requests. If something requires immediate action or the ask feels too good to be true, it’s likely a fake email.
2. Verify the email provider and ensure it is from Google. As noted above, you can verify the email sender by clicking the show details option under the provider name and checking if the mailed-by and signed-by sections contain Google.com domains. It’s the scammer trying to fool you if it includes letters or misspellings.
3. If the email contains any link, be cautious and do not click on it. Hover your cursor and check whether there’s anything weird in those links. If the link looks suspicious, like it contains misspellings, numbers, letters, and a strange domain name, it’s better to leave that email.
4. Do not download any attachments from the email. These attachments may contain malware that can compromise your privacy and security. Real Google Critical Alerts don’t have any attachments.

Protect Your Google Account

Many internet users use Google accounts to perform most of their tasks online. Therefore, keeping your account safe is mandatory. Here’s how to protect your Google account from third-party attackers:

1. Instead of opening phishing emails, assess whether the security alert is legit. Go to your Google account by typing https//myaccount.google.com, and it will take you to your Google account dashboard. Click on the security option and run a security checkup. If Google finds anything suspicious, it will inform you there.
2. Enhance your Google account’s security by activating two-factor authentication (2FA). You can enable it from the Google account’s security options and add other security settings to boost your account’s security.
3. Ensure that the recovery info for your Google account is up-to-date. You can update it by entering an active email address and phone number. Recovery info will help you regain your Google account if you ever face a mishap or forget the account password.
4. Change your account password and create a new one. It should be at least 8 characters and contain a capital letter, a small letter, a number, and a symbol, like @, !, #, $, etc. You can use ExtremeVPN’s free password generator to create a robust password for your Google account.
5. App permission sections give you the authority to allow or restrict any app from a specific permission. You can control who can access your Google account and delete the apps that are no longer in use or that you don’t recognize.
6. Keep yourself informed about the latest phishing and scamming techniques hackers use to scam users. It will save you from getting trapped. In addition, assess emails, offers that sound too good to be true, and requests for sensitive or personal data wisely.
7. Get a high-end antivirus like Total AV to protect your devices from malware and viruses. It will scan, detect, and remove any virus from your device trying to breach your privacy, leading to a cyber attack.
8. Use a top-notch Virtual Private Network (VPN) like ExtremeVPN. It is the best tool to keep your Google account and other vital information safe while browsing the internet. It encrypts your data and safeguards you from cyber-attacks and prying eyes. In addition, our VPN protects your data, device, and Google account while using public Wi-Fi, as it offers AES 256-bit encryption and robust protocols that let you browse anonymously.

Report and Seek Support

When you find out the security alert email you got is fake, don’t panic. Ensure you didn’t click on any of the links or attached files. After ensuring these, here’s what to do now:

1. Show privacy enthusiast skills by reporting those fake emails as spam or phishing.
2. If you doubt your privacy has been compromised and your account isn’t safe, go to Google customer support. They will help you to keep you safe from third-party attackers.

What to Do if You Become a Victim of the Google Alert Scam?

If you find out that the Google security alert email is fake, but you have clicked the phishing links or downloaded any malicious file on your device, you are in trouble. Hackers may now try activating the malicious file you downloaded or stealing your data.

Act fast because hackers can now:

• Take screenshots of your desktop.
• Steal stored passwords on your Google account and try to unlock various platforms.
• Delete, edit, or steal your stored files.
• Exploit your device by downloading malicious files or adware.
• Steal your private data and sell it to third parties like advertising platforms, dark web, etc.

Here’s what to do if you think they might have accessed your data and device:

• Remove the old Google account password and create a new strong password containing at least eight characters, including small letters, numbers, capital letters, and symbols. In addition, delete all the stored passwords from your Google account and write them somewhere else.
• Manually locate the malware; once you find it, delete it. You can also locate and remove the malware using an antivirus. Run an antivirus scan; it will detect the malware and remove it automatically. If the issue persists, consult a professional.

You can also save yourself by investing in a high-end antivirus like Total AV. It will run a scan and remove all the malware present, thus keeping you safe from cyber attackers. In addition, always hide your IP with a VPN.

FAQs

What is Google’s critical security alert?

It is one of the security features of Google, and the search engine sends this email when it detects suspicious activity on your Google account. The suspicious activity can be sending multiple emails through the same account, logging in on a strange device, Google blocking someone from stealing stored passwords on your account, and more.

How do I spot fake Google alerts?

Follow these steps to check whether the Google security alert is counterfeit: 1. Verify the provider’s email address. 2. Match the context and recent sign-in activity. 3. Carefully assess the tone of the email. 4. Ensure it doesn’t contain any phishing links and malicious files.

Why am I getting a Google security warning?

Google sends this email when it detects any suspicious activity on your Google account. For example, someone signs in to your Google account on a new device.

Is Google’s critical security alert real?

Yes, Google Critical Security Alert is real and warns Google account members against any unauthorized access or suspicious activity on their accounts. However, scammers abuse it by sending phishing links and malicious files in emails.