Google has announced an upgrade to Gmail‘s security features, blocking emails from bulk senders who fail to meet stricter anti-spam thresholds and email authentication standards.
This change aims to bolster protection against phishing attacks and other malicious email campaigns.
What is Email Spoofing?
Email spoofing occurs when hackers forge the ‘From’ address of an email, making it appear to come from a legitimate person, business, or organization. They use this trick to gain trust and lure victims into clicking dangerous links, downloading malware, or divulging sensitive information.
How Google’s New Protection Works
Google now requires bulk email senders (those sending over 5,000 messages daily to Gmail accounts) to implement email authentication protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC. These mechanisms help verify that an email originates from the domain it claims to represent.
“Bulk senders who don’t meet our sender requirements will start getting temporary errors with error codes on a small portion of messages that don’t meet the requirements,” Google says.
“These temporary errors help senders identify email that doesn’t meet our guidelines so senders can resolve issues that prevent compliance.”
“Starting in April 2024, we’ll begin rejecting non-compliant traffic. Rejection will be gradual and will impact non-compliant traffic only. We strongly recommend senders use the temporary failure enforcement period to make any changes required to become compliant.”
Google has been using AI-powered spam filters for years, and this new measure further reinforces its commitment to user protection. The company also offers resources to help users learn more about identifying and avoiding phishing scams.
