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Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

googleonlinesecurity.blogspot.com

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Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#2
Google has stepped it up against China. First warning users about search terms that trigger the Great Firewall and now this. Very interesting.

(Of course China wouldn't be the only one, but they have a history hacking into people's Google accounts and I have to imagine are a major motivator in this feature.)

Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#3
What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user? "Oh, my government may-or-may-not be attacking me, I'm not even sure because it doesn't say, in any case I better just push this magic fix-it-all-up button I have right here."

I can't see how this can be differentiated from simple underhanded FUD-driven political activism.

Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#4

What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user? "Oh, my government may-or-may-not be attacking me, I'm not even sure because it doesn't say, in any case I better just push this magic fix-it-all-up button I have right here." I can't see how this can be differentiated from simple underhanded FUD-driven political activism.

Maybe you could stop using Gmail or stop discussing next week's protests.

Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#5

What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user? "Oh, my government may-or-may-not be attacking me, I'm not even sure because it doesn't say, in any case I better just push this magic fix-it-all-up button I have right here." I can't see how this can be differentiated from simple underhanded FUD-driven political activism.

> What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user?

The users may make their account more secure and take more care of their physical security?

I don't understand what makes you so upset. I find this nice. Are you saying that Google will be misusing this to make some states look bad?

If you were at Google, what would you propose? Do nothing with accounts that you know are being attacked by states?

Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#7

What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user? "Oh, my government may-or-may-not be attacking me, I'm not even sure because it doesn't say, in any case I better just push this magic fix-it-all-up button I have right here." I can't see how this can be differentiated from simple underhanded FUD-driven political activism.

Potential productive responses are detailed in the OP.

Re: Gmail security warnings for suspected state-sponsored attacks

#8

What kind of productive, actionable result can this notification lead to for a regular user? "Oh, my government may-or-may-not be attacking me, I'm not even sure because it doesn't say, in any case I better just push this magic fix-it-all-up button I have right here." I can't see how this can be differentiated from simple underhanded FUD-driven political activism.

How about the steps noted in the post? Make sure you have a good password, use two-factor authentication, and be careful about clicking on any login links? It could also be incentive to change accounts, or change to a different communication mechanism. As long as this warning is triggered by actual data, I am not sure how you could categorize it as "FUD" or even political activism. Hacking into accounts should not be political - it should be criminal.
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