Homeland Security Has Worries About Gmail Mode

Gmail’s new security feature may lead to users being potentially scammed more often, according to the Department of Homeland Security. While the feature, known as confidentiality mode, is meant to help insure the safe transfer of information via email, it may lead to more effective phishing scams. This is due to the feature sending a link to said information, rather than the content itself. As an extra layer of security, the user must also enter a password to gain access.

The feature is part of a massive update by Google this year, and is meant to reduce the risk of someone, other than the recipient, viewing the content. While this can certainly help protect the transfer of material, there is a conceivable risk to those on the receiving end. A potential victim could unwittingly open a link that contains malware or be sent to scammers content, and users have little ways to detect if the link is genuine. Any time a user is asked to click a link, it could transfer them to a dangerous site, and this is how many phishing hackers gain access to one’s computer or personal information.

In this day and age, protecting one’s identity is incredibly important to avoid becoming the victim of thieves going after your money and information. Almost everyone nowadays utilizes technology to make life easier, which unfortunately comes at the cost of scammers attempting to infiltrate our personal lives. Google and other tech companies are trying to keep up with the security aspects of their services, but any new feature or technology runs the risk of being used in the wrong ways. One important aspect of dealing with these threats is being conscious of where the email you are receiving comes from, and using common sense at all times.