Google to launch updated security warning system for Gmail users

Google is set to launch an updated security warning system for Gmail users that the company claimed was designed to ensure that users did not fall victim to cyber attacks.

The first security warning would be triggered when a user clicks on a link in Gmail that Google suspects to be dangerous.

They would be shown a full-page warning and offered several ways to get more information about the threat, as also with ways to protect their computer from malicious ''badware'' that could undermine their online security.

Alternatively, users could proceed to flagged websites at their own risk.

In a second enhancement, suspected targets of state-sponsored hacking attempts would get a full-page warning as also information on how to protect their accounts. The new full-page alert came in addition to Google's existing warning, which showed up as a red strip with a link at the top of a suspected victim's Gmail page.

"Government-backed attackers may be trying to steal your password," reads the warning, in part. "If they succeed, they can spy on you, access your data, or do other activities. We recommend: Enable two-factor authorisation and set up a Security Key."

According to the online security blog of Google, suspected state-sponsored hacking attempts were rare and impacted 0.1 per cent of Gmail users.

In another development, Google issued an update on a new icon it launched last month - a broken red lock - which told users when they were communicating with an account that did not support encryption. According to Google, the amount of inbound mail sent over an encrypted connection had increased 25 per cent since the implementation of the icon.