Technologies

Gmail Hacked? How to Get Your Account Back and Tighten Your Security

Gmail accounts are being compromised in a sophisticated phishing attack. If you lost access to your account, here’s what you can do – and how to be better prepared.

Gmail users are again falling victim to a sophisticated phishing attack that is locking victims out of their accounts. While these sorts of attacks are nothing new, cybercriminals now have AI on their side to help them come up with new ways to trick people into falling for their traps.

Right now, that trickery is taking the form of an email that looks convincingly like it’s from Google, with an urgent call to action regarding a legal matter and a link for more information, according to a report from Forbes published on April 21.

But if you interact with the email, your credentials could be stolen, your password changed and new security measures put in place to keep you from getting back into your account. If you find yourself in this boat — from this phishing attack or another — hope isn’t lost. If you have the proper measures in place and you act quickly, you can regain access.

A Google spokesperson told Forbes that a fix for this particular scenario will soon be deployed.

Read on to find out what to do in case your Gmail account is hacked and you can no longer log in. We’ll also throw in some additional security measures so you can potentially make your account less vulnerable.

For more, don’t miss Android security and privacy features you should know about.

If your Gmail account was compromised, do this

This particular attack isn’t necessarily special, but it does show that cybercriminals are relentless in looking to gain access to user accounts by creating increasingly sophisticated methods of attack. And it is all too easy to fall victim to phishing attacks. Gmail is the most popular email service, so it makes sense for the bad guys to prioritize it. Google even has a quiz to help you spot these types of emails.

If you had your account hacked, regaining access can be tricky. What information and recovery measures were in place will play a factor in your success and in the time it could take to recover your account.

Start by going to https://accounts.google.com/signin/recovery and answer the questions to the best of your ability. If you had any additional emails or phone numbers associated with your account, this information may be able to help you, even if it’s been removed from your account. Google has additional tips that may help you when completing the account recovery module, like making sure you’re completing these steps in a familiar location and with a familiar device.

After some digging, including going through a series of help requests about a compromised account, the writer of the Forbes report was able to receive a callback from Google directly. A key factor here, though, was that it required the Google One Premium subscription that offers additional storage, AI features and other benefits.

Prevention is the best method: How to secure your Gmail account

There’s a reason why you’ll find more support articles from Google that will show you how to prevent bad actors from getting into and wreaking havoc on your Gmail account than you’ll find articles about recovering from a phishing attack. That’s because it’s much easier to prevent a hack than it is to prove you’re the one trying to regain access to your account.

If you’re luckily reading this as a preventive measure to protect your Gmail account, here are things you can and should do to keep your account safe.

One of the easiest ways to increase the security of your account is adding a recovery email and phone number to your account account. Here’s how to do it.

From your computer, head to myaccount.google.com and login to your account
Click on the Security tab on the left side panel
Under the How you sign in to Google section, click Add an email address next to Recovery email. You can add a phone number in this section by clicking 2-Step Verification phone.
Both of these methods will require verification before they’re added to your account.

Additional security measures you should enable

By adding a recovery phone and email to your Google account, you’ll save yourself a lot of time if you need to confirm your identity to regain access to your account, but that’s essentially the bare minimum. There’s still so much more you can do to protect your Google account, which will in turn protect your Gmail account.

True, additional security can come at the expense of convenience. Some of the methods may be slightly less secure but keep your convenience balanced, where others may be much more secure and the convenience dial turned all the way down.

The security focus is primarily going to be enabling two-step verification when you sign into your Google account or any of its apps, like Gmail.

Two-step verification options

There are a handful of ways to add a second layer of security when signing into your Google account. You can enable one or more at a time.

Passkeys — You can save a passkey to your device that can be used instead of logging in with a password. Passkeys, which are secure, FIDO credentials, can be saved with password managers on computers or mobile devices and just need to be verified with biometrics or a PIN.
Security Key — This is probably the most secure but most inconvenient method. It will require you to purchase a physical security key and insert it into the device you’re trying to log into. There are several NFC-enabled security keys available as well.
Two-step verification phone — With this enabled, you’ll be sent a code via text message that you can input into the device you’re signing into. SMS has its own security concerns, though.
Authenticator app — This method requires a one-time setup for your account. Once it’s enabled, you’ll be asked to provide a temporary code from your authenticator app in order to log in.
Google prompt — This method is very convenient. You’ll receive a popup on your phone from Google that you’ll need to tap to confirm it’s you that’s logging into your account on a new device.
Backup codes — This method will generate a series of unique codes that you store in a safe place and can use when you get locked out of your account.

Consider the Google Advanced Protection Program

Google offers an advanced protection program that doubles down on security. The above two-step verification methods will typically be enough for you to skip your login credentials, but the Google Advanced Protection Program requires you to use a passkey or security key and your login credentials to access your account. Google encourages journalists, activists, business executives and people involved in elections to enroll, but it’s a free program that anyone can use.

For more, check out our Cybersecurity hub.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 24, #683

Need the answers for Connections for April 24, #683? Think of movie villains.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Hey, is that the Bat-Signal shining over today’s Connections puzzle? Bat-fans, the blue group is going to be a breeze for you. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group, to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Color that’s the opposite of black.

Green group hint: Make a salad.

Blue group hint: Like the Riddler.

Purple group hint: Can you hear me now?

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Things that are white.

Green group: Kinds of lettuce.

Blue group: Batman villains.

Purple group: They have literal/idiomatic ears

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is things that are white. The four answers are baby powder, milk, polar bear and snow.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is kinds of lettuce. The four answers are butter, iceberg, leaf and romaine.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is Batman villains. The four answers are Bane, Joker, Penguin and Scarecrow.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is that they have literal or idiomatic ears. The four answers are cornfield, musicians, pitchers and walls.

Quick tips for Connections

#1: Say the clue words out loud, pausing before and after each. That helps you hear the words in the context of a phrase. The Connections editors love to group words together that are used in similar phrasing, like ____ Up.

#2: Don’t go for the obvious grouping. These editors are smart. Once, they offered SPONGE, BOB, SQUARE and PANTS in the same puzzle. None of those words were in the same category. If you like, hit the «shuffle» button to give yourself a different perspective on the words.

#3: Break down any compound words and look for similarities. «Rushmore» was once in a puzzle where the connection was that each word started with the name of a rock band.

Technologies

Apple Watch 10 Years Later: The Feature That Changed Everything for Me

Here’s a look back at the turning point that made the Apple Watch into a powerful health tool and what’s kept it relevant in the face of competitors for a decade.

I wasn’t immediately sold on the Apple Watch. But five years ago, it alerted me to a serious health problem, earning it a permanent spot on my wrist. Ten years after its launch, the Apple Watch still stands apart, even as a flood of other wearables and fitness trackers have hit the market.

It took several years for the Apple Watch to find its footing beyond just being an iPhone companion. Over the past decade, similar health tracking devices from companies like Samsung, Google and Oura have since ramped up competition. A March report from Counterpoint Research revealed a 19% drop in Apple Watch shipments in 2024, due to heightened competition and less frequent upgrades. Despite that, the Apple Watch has held onto its spot as the best-selling smartwatch in the world, with a lineup that now includes the Series 10, Ultra, and SE.

For many people, including me, it’s become a way to make data personal and meaningful. It’s an easy way to keep tabs on loved ones. And, perhaps most importantly, it’s been a literal life changer.

A very memorable ‘one more thing…’

Rumors about the Apple Watch, or «iWatch» as most people called it, had been simmering long before its launch. In 2014, fitness trackers and smartwatches like the Fitbit, Jawbone Up and Samsung Galaxy Gear Watch had already been on sale and were vying for a spot on people’s wrists. I liked testing these early trackers and watches because they got me outside of the office, but sooner or later, the novelty would wear off, and I’d retire them to my desk drawer. I wasn’t much of a watch or bracelet wearer to begin with, and most early smartwatches didn’t offer me enough incentive to keep wearing them.

Then, in September 2014, Tim Cook unveiled the Apple Watch during a keynote for the iPhone 6 (it arrived in stores on April 24, 2015). I remember holding the Apple Watch for the first time in the demo room after the announcement and thinking it was the best-looking smartwatch I’d ever seen. But that wasn’t much of a compliment considering most pre-Apple Watch wearables lacked fashion appeal and had a more utilitarian vibe. The Galaxy Gear screamed «nerd gadget» with its bulky camera on the strap and a mic on the clasp. The cult favorite Pebble Watch looked more like a plastic toy than a timeless piece. (Sorry, Pebble fans.)

That first Apple Watch appealed to me on a couple of levels. It was Apple’s first new product category since the 2010 launch of the original iPad. It was also the first major tech event that I covered as a journalist. Ultimately, in my Apple Watch review for CNET en Español, I concluded it was a nice iPhone companion, but I wasn’t sure I needed it.

The turning point: When my heart skipped a beat

By the time the Series 4 rolled around, features like LTE and onboard GPS helped the Apple Watch begin to break free from its dependence on the iPhone. I still wasn’t wearing it every day, but one feature changed that.

«We did have this turning point with the Series 4, where we had a little bit of a leap forward in the sensors. We had the advanced motion sensors that allowed us to offer fall detection, and we had the electrical heart sensor that allowed us to offer the ECG app,» says Deidre Caldbeck, senior director of product marketing for the Apple Watch and Health.

This coincided with the release of other heart features like high and low heart rate alerts, and irregular rhythm notifications, which use the optical sensors in the watch to notify users to possible signs of atrial fibrillation, a potentially life-threatening heart condition.

In December 2018, I was at the UCSF Medical Center with cardiologist Dr. Gregory Marcus, testing the new electrocardiogram feature for a CNET story — comparing it with a full-fledged, medical-grade electrocardiogram at the hospital. The last thing I expected was for the Apple Watch to catch something abnormal about my heart rhythm.

But it did.

I had 12 leads from the hospital’s EKG monitor attached to my body while I simultaneously took an ECG reading with the Apple Watch, using my index finger on the digital crown. Marcus signaled to something on the machine — a small irregularity disrupting my heart’s otherwise steady, melodic rhythm. I looked down, and the same out-of-place little wave popped up on the Apple Watch’s screen. My heart was literally skipping a beat.

At the time, I freaked out about what all this could possibly mean. But after some research and a follow-up visit, Marcus concluded that my premature ventricular contraction wasn’t serious or permanent. It was likely triggered by sleep deprivation and stress. I was a new mother to a 1-year-old, after all.

My story took on an unexpected personal turn, and I was left feeling completely different about having Apple’s tech strapped to my wrist. If it was powerful enough to surface such a nuanced heart condition, what else could it show me?

By Christmas of that same year, I had bought an Apple Watch for both my parents. They’re in their 70s and live in El Salvador. I figured if I couldn’t be there physically to watch them, I’d at least want them to have an Apple Watch to let them know if something was off.

It turns out that stories like mine helped Apple see beyond the Apple Watch’s innovative tech and drive the company in a direction steeped in health, wellness and early detection.

«What really inspired and motivated us to do more and to continue to pull on those threads and push the boundaries of what this device could do,» Caldbeck said, «[was] hearing stories from users about learning something about their health that they wouldn’t have otherwise learned because they’re wearing this device throughout the day.»

The Apple Watch as a diagnostic tool

Recently, I caught up with Marcus, nearly seven years after my original story, and talked with him about how he now uses ECGs from devices like the Apple Watch to help diagnose heart conditions in his patients.

«When a consumer or user obtains an EKG, it’ll get some sort of read — possible atrial fibrillation, normal, etc. That is not sufficient,» Marcus said. «Those recordings can be saved, usually as a PDF, and sent to a health care professional. The health care professional can make a diagnosis of atrial fibrillation using those EKGs.»

Marcus’s praise also came with a warning. Sometimes, having all this information, especially for heart rate alerts, can cause patients to worry unnecessarily, even if they are otherwise healthy and show no other symptoms.

«If you’re going to screen a huge population, almost by definition you’re going to have some number of false positive results,» Marcus said. «False positive results are going to lead to unnecessary anxiety, unnecessary testing, maybe unnecessary treatment.»

A jumping off point into other vitals

ECG and heart rate notifications were just the beginning. Now, the Apple Watch can flag signs of sleep apnea, overall mobility, hearing health, menstrual cycles changes and cardiovascular trends to name a few.

For years, I’ve tracked workouts with the Apple Watch and relied on the Move rings to hold me accountable for how much (or how little) activity I had throughout the day. Over time, Apple added more advanced metrics like VO2 Max, Cardio Fitness, Heart Rate Zones and Training Load, which allowed me to get more out of my workouts and stay focused on long-term health goals. The Training Load feature helps me decide when to exercise. Heart Rate Zones and notifications push me during the workout. And VO2 Max and Cardio Fitness scores give me a benchmark to work toward. As a mom of three who’s hard-pressed to carve out even 30 minutes for myself, that kind of focus the Apple Watch brings has been key to making my workouts more impactful.

I may have had a few choice words for the Apple Watch when it alerted me that my Fitness Score dipped days after birthing a human. But it was the push I needed to get back into post-baby shape after my pregnancies. I’m happy to report I’ve reclaimed my «high» score that I still wear with pride.

These features aren’t exclusive to the Apple Watch. In fact, Apple isn’t always the first to roll them out. But I appreciate how the Watch translates them into something relevant, so they don’t get lost in the endless sea of data.

Turning a chore into something seamless

The Apple Watch has affected my life in other ways too. I used tech to track my menstrual cycle well before it debuted on the Apple Watch in 2019. For my first baby, I used a smart thermometer to share basal body temperature readings (an indicator of ovulation and fertility) to my iPhone. It wasn’t seamless, since it required me to remember to do it before getting out of bed, but it beat the old-school pen and paper method.

Once the Apple Watch introduced cycle tracking, I ditched the thermometer and started logging everything on my wrist. Initially, it may not have been as accurate since it didn’t track temperature changes. But the convenience of having the tracking on my watch helped me stay consistent and accurately pinpoint my fertility window.

Apple added two sensors to the Watch Series 8 (and newer), which allow them to track subtle changes in body temperature. The combination of cycle tracking and recording these subtle temperature shifts helped me better confirm ovulation, and it may have played a hand in welcoming baby No. 3.

What really keeps me coming back

The Series 10 currently on my wrist still feels (and looks) a lot like that original Apple Watch smartwatch I reviewed back in 2015. It’s kept the core features that make my life easier — like pinging my phone (which I use an embarrassing number of times), and that spares me from having to dig through my Mary Poppins purse for my phone or wallet at the checkout counter. And the battery life continues to be a pain point 10 years later, though at least I can now squeeze in a full night’s sleep before having to top it off.

Features like cycle tracking and cardio fitness resonate with me the most, but I know that my preferences will continue to evolve alongside the watch. Maybe once my kids are older and I start getting more consistent sleep, I’ll lean more into sleep tracking features or whatever new tool Apple has in store for the watch that year.

The Apple Watch’s real evolution over the past 10 years happened under the hood and isn’t about a single feature. What keeps me (and my family) coming back to the Apple Watch is the personal way in which it tracks the metrics that are relevant to me and steps in when it matters, whether with a nudge to get moving, a health alert or a literal call for help in an emergency.

Technologies

Verum DEX: A New Decentralized Exchange on Binance Smart Chain — Now Live

Today, the Verum team is excited to announce the launch of Verum DEX — a new decentralized exchange (DEX) built on Binance Smart Chain (BSC), designed with a focus on simplicity, security, and high performance.

400+ Web3 Wallet Connections With Verum DEX, you can connect any popular Web3 wallet — Binance Wallet, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, SafePal, Rabby, WalletConnect-compatible wallets, and many others. Support for over 400 wallets makes the platform highly accessible to all participants in the Web3 ecosystem.

Key Features of Verum DEX:

Instant Token Swaps. Perform decentralized token swaps on the Binance Smart Chain network in just a few seconds. No registration, no intermediaries — just you and the blockchain.
Liquidity Pools. Add liquidity to the protocol and earn commissions from swap transactions. You retain full control over your funds.
Real-Time Analytics. An intuitive interface with real-time charts and metrics allows you to track trends, rates, and volumes, simplifying decision-making directly within the exchange interface.
Security and Transparency. Verum DEX operates on smart contracts. You are the sole manager of your assets.