Jakarta, INTI – Users of the Gmail email service must now increase their vigilance. The threat of digital fraud through fake links is increasingly sophisticated and difficult to recognize. In fact, the new technique used by cyber criminals is able to trick users even though they have tried to check the link first.
Fake Links that Look Real
The method used goes beyond disguising the appearance of the link to resemble a legitimate web address, but also manipulates the information that appears when the cursor is hovered over the link (hovering feature). This means that even when users try to preview the address before clicking, they can still be tricked.
This trick is especially effective if the user opens Gmail through a web browser like Google Chrome. The link looks safe and comes from a trusted site, but just one click can be an opening for the perpetrator to steal personal data and break into the victim's bank account.
Simple Forgery, Big Risk
Although this method uses a simple HTML-based technique and does not involve JavaScript, the impact can be fatal. Scammers take advantage of users not paying attention to the actual link address that usually appears in the bottom left corner of the screen.
KnowBe4, a cybersecurity organization, has warned since 2020 that the hover method of checking links is not secure enough. They emphasize that this technique can be completely manipulated by malicious parties.
Google has taken action, but caution is still needed
Google stated that their protection system successfully blocked more than 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware through artificial intelligence (AI) based detection. Features such as automatic scanning of attachments are also being optimized.
However, Google still urges users not to be complacent. One of them is by taking the phishing quiz provided to train the ability to recognize suspicious emails. In addition, they recommend using dedicated email applications on desktops or mobile devices, which are considered to have better protection than browser access.
Protect Yourself from Cyber Threats
Increasing vigilance when opening emails is now a must. Don't easily trust links, even if they seem familiar. Always check the sender's address, don't blindly click on links, and consider using a more secure email application.
By understanding these threats, users can protect their personal data and avoid financial losses caused by increasingly cunning cybercriminals.
Conclusion
Gmail scams are getting more complicated to spot, even by vigilant users. Perpetrators are exploiting the weaknesses of hovering link checking techniques and infiltrating fake links through convincing-looking emails. While Gmail's AI-based security system is quite robust, users still need to be proactive in protecting themselves.
Read More:As Cyber Threats Rise, User Awareness is Key to Defense