How To Identify Fake Gmail Attachments: New Gmail Phishing Scam

Gmail has a large audience, almost every human being has a Gmail account as it is one of the best mailing systems.

Maybe that is the reason there is a disadvantage that also comes into the picture. As people are using its popularity for sending some phishing emails and obviously those are anonymous emails.

New Gmail Scam: Identify Fake Gmail Attachments

A new trend of phishing comes with the attachment in Gmail, at least it looks like an attachment. But actually, it is not an attachment and completely fake as it is an embedded image.

Gmail Login

Once clicked on such attachments it will take you to the Gmail Login page instead of downloading the attachment.

And without thinking, anyone might attempt to logon providing their login credentials. Because it looks like the same as the Gmail login page.

And thinking of the possibility of the account got logged out as it used to happen seldom.

And there the issue gets invited, as we attempt to log in and the information passes through the embed image to the email sender.

Resulting in our account compromises, and our data no more used to be ours. I am pretty much sure we all know what the result could be.

Let us see how to identify and get away from this Gmail phishing emails and help yourself by saving your account.

Tom Scott’s Tweet on the same

Tom Scott tweet on Fake Attachments

How To Prevent Gmail Account From Getting Hacked: Identify Fake Gmail Attachments

As discussed above once clicked on the attachment it will take you to the Gmail Login page, which looks very similar to the regular one.

But, It is proven already that how can you identify fake Gmail attachments and protect your Gmail by following few steps and stay away from such Phishing attachments.

An initial quick way to do so, you can observe some change of URL in the address bar, shown below.

Url Starts with data: text/htyml Instead of Https://

But Generally being in a hurry, we don’t cross-check address bar for the URL and any such kind of information, as we had to reply to plenty of emails. But it’s time to keep an eye and wake up before it gets too late.

Because all the stored personal and professional information attached to our Gmail can compromise within a few mins. I am sure you don’t want that to happen. There are few more workarounds to get rid of phishing emails, discussed below.

Google Update on Identifying the Phishing and Anonymous Email

According to Google Update, Chrome 56.0.2924 can definitely help to identify such documents or forms, etc.

Google Chrome indicates the phishing sites as “Not Secure” in the address bar but unfortunately, can’t block those.

When your browser displays the protocol https:// Green in color indicates as the site is secure, then go ahead with your browsing activities.

You can also follow some more ways to keep an eye on your Gmail Activities.

How to Identify your Gmail Account is Compromised or not

Now there is a possibility you might be thinking is my account already compromised? And it is quite natural that thought to come as a human being.   I would recommend changing your password right now if you think so, even having 1% thought on the same. Spending a few seconds of time won’t harm you at all.   Check your Account Status Microsoft Regional Director Troy Hunt who is an expert on web security and a genius.

have i been pawned

He had developed a website haveibeenpwned, where we can check our account status quickly.   We just need to put our Gmail ID in the box and hit the pwned? Button and within a few seconds we would be able to see the status of it as shown in the image below.

Note: It may sound a little regular or basic tip, but yes changing your password regularly will definitely keep you away from getting hacked your account.

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