After it was reported that a list containing as many as 5 million usernames and passwords from Google's Gmail users was leaked online, Google is responding by saying that its servers would have blocked suspicious log-in attempts. Noting that only 2 percent of the password and username combos would work, Google says it has protected affected accounts.
"We found that less than 2% of the username and password combinations might have worked, and our automated anti-hijacking systems would have blocked many of those login attempts," the search giant said. "We've protected the affected accounts and have required those users to reset their passwords."
Google said that if it notices anything unusual with your account, it would block sign-in attempts from devices and locations that are unfamiliar.
Still, like Apple's high profile iCloud fiasco that resulted in leaked nude images of celebrities earlier in the month, Google says that its leak is not because of a security breach and that these credentials were obtained through phishing, malware, or other means.
"It's important to note that in this case and in others, the leaked usernames and passwords were not the result of a breach of Google systems," Google emphasized. "Often, these credentials are obtained through a combination of other sources."
Are you a victim of having your password compromised? Did you change your password following this morning's news?
Source: Google
