Security News > 2020 > March > Google sent ~40K warnings to targets of state-backed attackers in 2019
In 2019, Google sent nearly 40,000 warnings to accounts that were targeted by state-sponsored phishing or malware attacks, it reported on Thursday.
Google's also seen cases wherein attackers first try to chummy up with targets by sending several benign emails to build rapport.
Google says that government-backed attackers "Regularly target foreign policy experts for their research, access to the organizations they work with, and connection to fellow researchers or policymakers for subsequent attacks."
Google claims that its Advanced Protection Program - a free service for Google accounts that's currently on limited release - safeguards personal Google Accounts from targeted attacks, going beyond two-factor authentication by adding another security step.
In the meantime, Google suggests turning on 2FA and running its security checkup.