Google Introduces Major Gmail Update After 22 Years, Experts Raise Security Concerns
After more than two decades, Google has introduced a significant update to its email service Gmail, allowing users to change their old or outdated email addresses.
The new feature enables users to replace email addresses that may appear unprofessional or outdated, a move that has gained attention, particularly in the United States. However, cybersecurity experts warn that the update is largely cosmetic and does not fully address deeper privacy and security concerns.
According to experts, the issue goes beyond the name of an email address. Once an email is used across multiple platforms and services, it becomes part of various databases, making it accessible to marketers and potentially cybercriminals. This increases the risk of spam and phishing attacks regardless of whether the email address is old or newly updated.
Another concern highlighted is that even after changing an email address on Gmail, the old address may remain active as an alias, which could expose users to impersonation and phishing threats.
In contrast, privacy-focused features like Hide My Email offered by Apple are being seen as more effective. This feature allows users to generate temporary or alternate email addresses that forward messages to the primary inbox and can be disabled when no longer needed.
While reports suggest that Google is working on similar privacy-enhancing tools, no official timeline for their release has been announced.
Analysts believe that combining email address flexibility with stronger privacy protections would provide a more comprehensive solution. For now, billions of Gmail users are advised to remain cautious about their digital security.
