New Security Warning Issued For Google’s 1.8 Billion Gmail Users
The recent introduction of the Gmail checkmark system, intended to enhance security by highlighting verified companies and organizations with a blue checkmark, has unfortunately become a tool exploited by scammers. Hackers have found a way to deceive Gmail into recognizing their fake brands as legitimate, undermining the purpose of the checkmark system.
Cybersecurity engineer Chris Plummer discovered this flaw and initially faced dismissal from Google when he reported it as “intended behavior.” However, after his tweets gained traction and went viral, Google acknowledged the issue and labeled it a top priority fix (P1). According to Google, the fix is currently in progress.
Chris Plummer deserves immense credit not only for identifying the problem but also for persistently pushing Google to address it. In the meantime, it is crucial for Gmail users to remain vigilant as the checkmark verification system is still vulnerable to exploitation by hackers and spammers. Be cautious when interacting with emails and continue to exercise caution until a fix is implemented.
