• News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
All Gmail users given 'red alert' as Google rushes to stop new sophisticated 'attack'

Home> News> Tech News

Published 15:12 21 Apr 2025 GMT+1

All Gmail users given 'red alert' as Google rushes to stop new sophisticated 'attack'

This is dangerously convincing to those without a trained eye

Ben Williams

Ben Williams

If you use Gmail, you might want to keep your eyes peeled, because a a “red alert” warning has just been issued over a disturbingly clever phishing attack that even Google’s own systems have been struggling to stop.

The tech giant has confirmed it’s dealing with an “extremely sophisticated attack” that looks so convincing, it’s able to sneak past Gmail’s usual filters and land straight in your inbox. And that’s exactly what makes it so dangerous.

Developer Nick Johnson was among the first to sound the alarm after receiving one of the fake emails, sharing a screenshot on X (formerly Twitter). The message claimed a legal subpoena had been issued for him, and that his Google account data was being requested.

Advert

The disturbing part was that it appeared to come from a completely legitimate source.


Johnson wrote in his X thread: “The first thing to note is that this is a valid, signed email – it really was sent from [email protected]”.

Advert

“It passes the DKIM signature check, and Gmail displays it without any warnings – it even puts it in the same conversation as other, legitimate security alerts.”

That’s where the scam gets particularly concerning. Since it uses what looks like a verified Google domain, Gmail’s filters don’t flag it. Instead, it arrives in your main inbox, blending in with real alerts from Google.

Inside the email is a link that leads to a fake, but incredibly realistic-looking, Google sign-in page. If you’re unlucky enough to enter your credentials, you’re essentially handing over your account and personal data to cybercriminals.

This is exactly why Google has sounded the alarm and is now racing to roll out a fix. The company confirmed the attack comes from a threat actor known as Rockfoils, and it's already started pushing new protections to stop it.

Advert

A Google spokesperson told Newsweek: “We're aware of this class of targeted attack from the threat actor, Rockfoils, and have been rolling out protections for the past week”.

“These protections will soon be fully deployed, which will shut down this avenue for abuse.”

Art of a cybercriminal (Farion_O/Getty Images)
Art of a cybercriminal (Farion_O/Getty Images)

No timeline has been given for when the fix will be complete, so until then, Gmail users are being urged to stay on high alert. Double-check every email, especially ones that seem to come from Google, and never click links unless you’re 100% sure they’re legit.

Advert

The warning follows another recent cyber threat aimed at WhatsApp users, where scam messages were tricking people into handing over verification codes that could give attackers access to accounts — and even banking details.

Altogether, scams are getting smart enough that we can’t even 100% trust our most trusted tech companies to stop them right away. In the meantime, it’s up to us to stay vigilant.

Featured Image Credit: NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
Cybersecurity
Google
Tech News

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

5 hours ago
7 hours ago
8 hours ago
  • 5 hours ago

    Crypto boss issues brutal public response to hackers after they demand $20,000,000 ransom

    The head of Coinbase revealed the company will not be paying up

    News
  • 7 hours ago

    World's biggest lithium reservoir with $1,500,000,000,000,000 worth of the precious metal hiding in supervolcano

    This could turn the US into a leading global supplier of the valuable metal

    Science
  • 8 hours ago

    Trump reignites bid to take over Greenland following stunning discovery beneath the ice

    Greenland could become a crucial territory in the potential World War III

    News
  • 8 hours ago

    College student demanded her tuition fees back after she caught her professor doing the one thing he asked students not to

    It shouldn't be one rule for one, one for another

    News
  • Urgent warning issued to 1,800,000,000 Gmail users following ‘sophisticated’ password hack
  • Google introduces unexpected feature that will affect 2,000,000,000 Gmail users
  • WhatsApp users urged to delete 'dangerous' two-word message as scam places them on red alert
  • 1,800,000,000,000 Gmail users issued 'red alert' warning after 'devastating' scam steals banking info