2.5 billion Gmail users endangered after Google database hack

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2880822/2-5-billion-gmail-users-endangered-after-google-database-hack.html

A hacker group gained access to Google databases and is now attempting to scam Gmail and Google Cloud users.

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2.5 billion Gmail users endangered after Google database hack

A hacker group gained access to Google databases and is now attempting to scam Gmail and Google Cloud users.

By Laura Pippig

Staff Writer, PC-WELT AUG 24, 2025 8:00 AM PDT

Image: BigTunaOnline/Shutterstock.com

If you’re a Gmail user, you need to be particularly careful right now as criminals are currently targeting Gmail accounts. Hackers from a group called ShinyHunters were recently able to gain access to Google’s Salesforce database systems, reports Forbes.

Google has confirmed the attacks and states that general data like customer and company names were leaked, but not passwords. The resulting data leak means that users of Google services—including Gmail and Google Cloud—are now at risk of falling victim to phishing attempts.

How the phishing attacks work

Initial reports of attempted attacks have already been seen on Reddit, which are likely related to the data leak. Users describe how alleged Google employees have contacted them by phone to inform them of a security breach in their accounts.

In these scam attempts, attackers are trying to take over Gmail accounts by triggering alleged “account resets” and then intercepting passwords to subsequently lock out the account holders. Another attack method involves “dangling buckets” (i.e., outdated access addresses) to steal data from or inject malware into Google Cloud.

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