Google has issued an urgent warning to Gmail users, urging them to carefully consider the security of their email.
The company has reported an exponential increase in phishing cyber attacks, fueled by the new capabilities offered by artificial intelligence (AI). These developments pose a real threat beyond 2.5 million profiles, despite Big G’s efforts to block more than 99.9% of recently spread malware scams.
The latest wave of cyber attacks exploits the capabilities ofartificial intelligence to create increasingly sophisticated and difficult to detect scams. As reported by Google and confirmed by security experts such as McAfee, even less experienced hackers can now carry out large-scale phishing campaigns with extreme ease. In fact, AI allows the generation of clone web pages with deceptive links, applications infected with spyware, PDF documents containing hidden viruses and other ploys to deceive users.
The cybersecurity company McAfee, a global leader based in California and with long experience in the sector, underlined how the AI revolution is revolutionizing the online security landscape, creating new vulnerabilities especially in email management. This phenomenon places increasing pressure on cybersecurity infrastructures, which must adapt quickly to counter more sophisticated and widespread threats.
Google itself has invested heavily in 2025 in developing advanced scam prevention tools, with further improvements expected in 2026. However, AI itself, if left unchecked, risks becoming a powerful weapon in the hands of cybercriminals, making it more difficult to protect users.
The new security features and the change of email address
To respond to this emergency, Google has announced the introduction of a new feature called Shielded Emailwhich will soon be available on Gmail. This system allows you to create temporary or limited-use alias email addresses, which act as a “shield” to protect the real main address. All communications sent to aliases are automatically forwarded to the primary address, but remain hidden from potential hackers.
This innovation allows users to keep their digital identity more protected, reducing the risk of direct exposure to scams and attacks. The alternative solution, that is, creating a new Gmail address from scratch, is less practical, especially for those who use email daily for work or study.
In parallel, Google has finally implemented a feature that has been awaited for years: the ability to edit your own Gmail email address without having to create a new account. This option, currently being gradually released, allows you to change the personalized part of the address (before “@gmail.com”) once every 12 months, keeping both the old and new addresses active as alternative aliases linked to the same Google account. This avoids inconveniences related to the loss of contacts, emails or the obligation to manage multiple separate accounts.
The change is also essential to improve the management of personal security, giving users more flexibility in protecting their data and responding quickly to possible compromises.
Google’s adoption of these tools highlights how protecting Gmail users has become a top priority. The American company, founded by Larry Page and Sergey Brin in the 1990s, has always aimed to innovate the digital world with integrated services such as Google Search, YouTube, Drive and, indeed, Gmail, the most popular email service in the world.
However, the current context, with the growing diffusion of artificial intelligence applied to cyber scams, requires a leap in quality in security measures. Among the solutions adopted by users and businesses there are also alternative communication platforms, such as Teams, Slack, WhatsApp and Telegram, which integrate diversified security systems.
The security company McAfee, based in Santa Clara, California and founded in 1987 by John McAfee, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive protection tools, including antivirus, VPN, identity monitoring and SMS fraud detection systems enhanced by artificial intelligence. McAfee continues to be a point of reference for millions of users and businesses, offering advanced solutions against digital threats.
Gmail users, therefore, are invited to take advantage of the new features made available by Google and to keep their guard up against increasingly advanced phishing attempts, to protect their privacy and the security of their personal data.
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