Categories: Web

More and more spam now comes from people you know, Google says

Each day, more and more “illegal, fraudulent or spammy” email messages originate, or at least appear to, from those you know, says Google.

Thanks to improvements in spam filtering technology, of which Google considers 120 distinct variables when deciding whether to route messages to your inbox or spam folder, spammers are getting smarter (or more desperate). In a coordinated attempt to steal past ever-smarter spam filters, spammers changed tactics around 2010 and began sending you unwanted messages from a contact’s hijacked Google account. Because of previous established connections, these messages appear more genuine and are more likely to get through filtering technology.

To do this, spammers must first gain access a Google Account. The process is a follows; hackers break into websites stealing databases of email addresses and passwords. These databases are then sold online to spammers. Because most people use a single common password across services, these bought credentials are often valid on others – like Gmail.

Gmail boasts that less than 1% of spam messages now make it into an inbox. Improved Google security systems in the last few years perform “complex risk analysis” each time a user attempts to sign-in. This is where Google’s 120 variable authentication factoring comes into play. So if you login to Gmail in Ireland, then again from China 20 minutes later, Google knows something isn’t quite right and prevents access.

Because of measures likes this, and others, the number of compromised Google accounts has fallen by 99.7% since peaking in summer 2011. This blog has noticed an increase in the number of unsuccessful hijack attempts in recent months.

If you have a Google Account we recommend enabling Google’s 2-step verification and keeping your recovery options up-to-date. Also, make sure your password isn’t ‘passw0rd’.

Albizu Garcia

Albizu Garcia is the Co-Founder and CEO of Gain -- a marketing technology company that automates the social media and content publishing workflow for agencies and social media managers, their clients and anyone working in teams.

Recent Posts

GAN, Tec de Monterrey partnership highlights cross-border startup ecosystem building in Latin America amid trade dispute

Despite recent tensions between the United States government and Latin American countries over migration and…

3 days ago

This founder started out with US $5K to his name. Now, he owns a multi-million-dollar global business

Meet Nitin Seth, the Co-Founder and CEO of Screen Magic (SMS Magic), a messaging leader…

3 days ago

Building smarter: AI, the ultimate tool transforming an old-age industry

In this Brains Byte Back, we sit down with Hari Vasudevan, founder and CEO of…

4 days ago

When AI Goes Rogue: 8 Lessons from Implementing LLMs in the Healthcare Industry that Could Save the Future

By Santosh Shevade, Principal Data Consultant at Gramener – A Straive company All pharmaceutical companies…

5 days ago

Digital Public Infrastructure will enable public, private entities to control your access to essential goods, services & mobility

Digital Public Infrastructure is a top-down agenda coming from unelected globalists, bureaucrats, and their partners…

2 weeks ago

Open Source Claims to Be a Meritocracy—So Why Are Companies Buying Their Way In?

Imagine that you are a maintainer of a widely used open source project relied upon…

2 weeks ago