Google has issued a warning to its 2.5 billion Gmail users, advising them to change their passwords immediately and enable two-step verification. This advisory comes in response to a surge in cyberattacks, with hackers increasingly targeting online accounts. The hacking group ShinyHunters, inspired by the Pokémon franchise and active since 2020, is suspected of being behind many of these attacks. Their methods include phishing, using carefully crafted emails to lure users into providing sensitive information on fake login pages. Google’s alert emphasizes the urgency, especially as ShinyHunters may be preparing to escalate their extortion tactics with a brand data leak site.
