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Google Warns Gmail Users to Update Passwords as Scams Exploit June Salesforce Breach

Google urges passkeys with non‑SMS two‑factor authentication to blunt targeted phishing.

Overview

  • Google confirmed attackers accessed a corporate Salesforce instance in June that stored basic business contact details for small and medium‑size businesses, not consumer passwords or Gmail, Drive or Calendar data.
  • Security teams and users report phishing emails, fake security alerts and phone scams posing as Google support, including calls from 650 numbers seeking password resets or verification codes.
  • The company says a significant share of recent account intrusions involve compromised passwords, and it advises immediate password changes, passkeys by default, authenticator‑based 2FA and a Google Security Checkup.
  • Google acknowledged the incident on August 5 and emailed notifications to affected contacts on August 8.
  • Google Threat Intelligence links the activity to actors using the ShinyHunters brand and warns they may escalate extortion by launching a data leak site.