Daijiworld Media Network- San Francisco

San Francisco, Sep 3: Tech giant Google on Monday strongly refuted reports that suggested as many as 2.5 billion Gmail users had been affected by a massive hack. The company clarified that no such warning was issued and dismissed the claims as “entirely false.”

Rumours emerged last week linking Gmail accounts to a data breach connected with Salesforce, alleging that Google had advised its users to change passwords immediately.

However, the company clarified that these reports were misleading and without basis.

“While phishers constantly look for ways to infiltrate inboxes, our systems continue to block more than 99.9 per cent of phishing and malware attempts from ever reaching users,” Google said in an official blog post.

The company emphasized that user security remains a top priority. “We take this responsibility incredibly seriously. Our teams invest heavily, innovate continuously, and communicate transparently about risks and safeguards. It is crucial that discussions around cybersecurity remain accurate and factual,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, Google’s Threat Intelligence Group confirmed that it had earlier identified a hacking campaign targeting firms using Salesforce software. This attack involved voice phishing techniques aimed at gaining access to sensitive data. Google further revealed that while it had been impacted in early June, all affected customers were notified by August 8.

The clarification comes amid heightened concerns over cybersecurity breaches worldwide, with companies and individuals being urged to remain vigilant against phishing attempts.