Google has moved to reassure its 2.5 billion Gmail users after a wave of misleading reports suggested the platform was facing a widespread security breach.
In a rare public clarification, the company said on Monday that no broad warning had been issued and that claims of a major Gmail security issue were “entirely false.”
“Several inaccurate claims surfaced recently that incorrectly stated that we issued a broad warning to all Gmail users about a major Gmail security issue. This is entirely false,” Google said in its statement.
The tech firm didn’t specify the exact source of the confusion but appeared to be responding to resurfaced media reports about a phishing campaign. That attack, which involved a compromised Salesforce instance used by Google, was first reported in June. Google later confirmed it had completed notifying affected users by August 8.
Phishing risks remain
While stressing that Gmail is not under widespread threat, Google acknowledged that phishing attempts are an ongoing reality.
“Phishers are always looking for ways to infiltrate inboxes, but our protections block more than 99.9% of phishing and malware attempts from ever reaching users,” the company said.
Safety advice for users
Google also encouraged users to adopt stronger security practices, including enabling passkeys or other password alternatives, to further safeguard their accounts.
The clarification highlights how quickly misinformation about cybersecurity can spread — and the challenges tech companies face in correcting the record. For Gmail users, the takeaway is clear: there is no new mass security threat, but vigilance and secure login practices remain crucial.
