{"id":11299,"date":"2018-05-05T12:39:11","date_gmt":"2018-05-05T19:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/?p=11299"},"modified":"2021-06-30T08:13:05","modified_gmt":"2021-06-30T15:13:05","slug":"gmail-users-getting-spammed-accounts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/gmail-users-getting-spammed-accounts","title":{"rendered":"Gmail Users Are Getting Spammed by Their Own Accounts"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Google is still sorting out what looks like an elaborate prank — hackers are into personal Gmail accounts and sending out strange emails such as weight loss and growth supplements for men advertisements. More info below, and we’ll wait to see how Google gets to the bottom of this and puts an end to it.  In the meantime, let’s also look at some tips to tell spam from legit emails.<\/span>
 
For the most part, Gmail does a good job at filtering out spam emails. A small number of users, however, reported having their inbox bizarrely flooded by suspicious ads. Even more strange is how the spam messages were reportedly sent from their own accounts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Sinister April Fool\u2019s Prank?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Initially posted on Gmail\u2019s Help Forum<\/a>, some users came forward to report the incident. They shared how the spam emails seemed like they were sent, and continuing to be sent, from their own Gmail accounts. That is despite having, subsequently, set-up two-factor authentication and changed their passwords.<\/span>
 
The spammers even forged email headers to make the messages appear like they came from users via a Canadian telecommunications company, Telus. This is how the spam emails got past Gmail\u2019s spam filters.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Outsmarting Spam Filters<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The spam emails were automatically filed by Gmail together with messages found in an effected user\u2019s sent folder. That\u2019s because they appeared to be coming from the same user.<\/span>
 
Although the spam campaign has only affected a small number of Gmail users, one can\u2019t help but feel alarmed by the implications: could a larger scale, similar hack target many or even all Gmail users?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Google is still setting up countermeasures to neutralize such nuisances, learning to identify spam, and to not fall victim to identity theft, should be your priority at the moment.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Ways to Tell If An Email Is Spam<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A few spam campaigns get right past your email service\u2019s spam filters. That\u2019s how clever spammers have become these days. When that happens, you\u2019re virtually the last line of defense. It goes without saying that you have to know the many signs that an electronic correspondence is bogus.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ends Up in the Spam Folder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An email found in the spam folder is obviously suspect. However, we\u2019ve seen people rummage through their spam folder like there\u2019s something important in there. The fact is that legit emails don\u2019t end up as spam unless you accidentally categorized them as such.<\/span>
 
In some cases, emails from certain websites end up in the said folder. Deal with those sites individually and determine whether you really want to push countless YouTube notifications into your inbox.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Random Email Address<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most credible or legitimate companies send emails through a server based on their company\u2019s official website (e.g. <\/span>support@microsoft.com<\/span><\/a>). Seeing a long string of numbers before the \u201c@\u201d sign? Is the name before the \u201c.com\u201d that of a free email service? If so, you should question the legitimacy of the email.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Generic or Vague Greeting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Anyone sending you a genuine correspondence wants to get your attention so they\u2019ll <\/span>always <\/span><\/i>address you directly. In fact, they\u2019ll address you using your first or last name and never as a \u201cValued Customer\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If an email refers to you as \u201cDear Valued Customer,\u201d you can bet that message is spam.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dubious, Poorly Made Content<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When an email from some company asks you to do something urgently, it often doesn\u2019t bode well. Keep an eye out for emails saying you need to rectify something on that same hour or within the day.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They will likely be spam. If there is really something you need to do for your online account, trusted companies won\u2019t direct you there via links. Most will simply advise you to log into your account. Steer clear of emails that include links that you\u2019re not familiar with.<\/span>
 
Grammatical and spelling errors in an email is a HUGE red flag. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Demands Personal Information<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As a rule of thumb, any personal information should <\/span>never <\/span><\/i>be exchanged via email. In fact, most establishments you\u2019re connected to won\u2019t even ask for your personal details online because they\u2019ll have them on hand. <\/span>
 
If an email asks you for personal information, don\u2019t bother doing anything. Just send that email straight to your trash folder. Personal info is only meant to be shared through secure, encrypted forms. Otherwise, you run the risk of having them whisked off by hackers and snoopers.<\/span>
 
The fact that spammers are getting more clever at tricking people only means we have to step up our game in foiling their duplicitous schemes. Knowing their strategies in-depth is an essential first step in the right direction.<\/span>
 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

24\/7 Email Support at HelloTech<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Need a hand managing your inbox<\/a>? Give us a ring anytime and we\u2019ll help you stay organized and be in the loop. Our Techs can even assist with sorting out your account settings and contact list!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Google is still sorting out what looks like an elaborate prank — hackers are into personal Gmail accounts and sending out strange emails such as weight loss and growth supplements for men advertisements. More info below, and we’ll wait to see how Google gets to the bottom of this and puts an end to it.  In the meantime, let’s also look at some tips to tell spam from legit emails. For the most part, Gmail does a good job at filtering […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":11393,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGmail Users Are Getting Spammed by Their Own Accounts - The Plug - HelloTech<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Gmail Users Are Getting Spammed by Their Own Accounts - HelloTech Best Informative Articles, Onsite & Online Tech Support, Installation\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/gmail-users-getting-spammed-accounts\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gmail Users Are Getting Spammed by Their Own Accounts - 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