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Google Warned Over 50K Individual Users About Cyberattacks

Most of the attacks come from state-sponsored groups

By Cesar Cadenas Cesar Cadenas Writer California State University - Long Beach Cesar Cadenas has been writing about the tech industry since 2016 on a variety of topics like cryptocurrency, video games, the latest gadgets, and much more. lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on October 15, 2021 01:30PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Internet & Security Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming Google revealed that it has sent over 50,000 individual warnings this year to users over what the company suspects to be state-sponsored hacks. According to a post from Google’s Threat Analysis Group (TAG), the company blames Russian hacking group APT 28, also known as Fancy Bear. The group has been so prolific in its efforts that Google saw a 33% increase in attacks from this same time in 2020. Maskot/Getty Images Fancy Bear’s hacking strategy appears to be large-scale phishing and malware campaigns, and when an attempt is detected, Google immediately sends out a notification. The company does this to make sure the attackers don’t see their defensive strategy. If someone has gotten one of these warnings, it doesn’t mean they’ve been hacked, but rather that they are a target. In addition to the Russian group, TAG revealed it is tracking more than 270 state-backed hacking groups across 50 countries. Google also mentioned another hacking group known as APT35 from Iran, which it says is responsible for one of the more noteworthy hacking campaigns from this year. boonchai wedmakawand/Getty Images APT35's usual activity is to phish for the credentials of "high-value accounts" found in government organizations, journalist groups, and national security, to name a few. TAG points out how far these groups will go to appear legitimate, since that makes it easier to trick users. Google recommends that users enable two-factor authentication or enroll in itsAdvanced Protection Program for added security. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Use Lockdown Mode on iPad Google Pixel Watch: Release Date, Price, Specs, and News How to Use Lockdown Mode on Mac A Brief History of Malware What Is Microsoft Internet Explorer? What Is a Cyber Attack and How to Prevent One What Does Lockdown Mode Mean on Apple Devices? 5 Reasons iPhone Is More Secure Than Android Zemana AntiMalware 3.0 Premium: Everything You Need to Know How to Report a Phishing Email in Outlook.com What Is 'Whaling?' Formjacking: What It Is and How to Protect Yourself From It Kaspersky Review: Nearly Perfect Protection Against All Manner of Threats How to Use Firefox Privacy & Security Preferences What Are the Security Threats In VoIP How to Keep Your Smart Home From Being Hacked Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies