Gmail Faces Fresh Phishing Attacks

A recent wave of phishing attacks has been targeting Google's popular e-mail service Gmail, whereby hackers are aiming for identity theft and eventually, the financial fraud. Several spammers have attacked Indian users in the past.

Reportedly, Gmail users got phony notification from Gmail team that asked them to update their account details on security grounds. Users were asked to give their account name, password, date of birth, occupation and country. It also warned users that if the details were not updated within a week of receiving the notification, they would permanently lose their e-mail account.

However, Google has thoroughly refused of sending any such notification to its users. A spokesperson for Google confirmed that the notice is nothing more than a scam and said that some spammers circulate fake mass-emails aimed to garner users' personal information, which is better known as 'password phishing' or 'spoofing'.

Meanwhile, security experts highlighted that 71 Million Internet and nearly 10 Million broadband users of India are increasingly falling victim to phishing attacks that can lead to identity theft, financial fraud and can even pose risk to life.

Rakshit Tandon, consultant safe surfing at the Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI), said that there has been a continued surge in the phishing activity in India since December 2009, as per the news published by THE TIMES OF INDIA on May 13, 2010.

Tandon also noted that the major targets for cyber crooks are banks, while free e-mail sites, such as Yahoo and Gmail, and social networks, such as Orkut and Facebook, constitute the other key targets.

Another staff member of Google stated that they always suggest users to be cautious of any e-mail that asks for their personal details, or e-mail that directs to a fake webpage urging for personal details. Moreover, it is noteworthy that Google doesn't send mass e-mails requesting for personal details. Even if the message claims to be from the Google, it is not at all advisable to believe it.

Related article: Gmail Users at the Mercy of Firefox Exploit

» SPAMfighter News - 5/25/2010