Your Gmail inbox is at risk. The FBI has issued another warning near the holiday season, highlighting a scary rise in email and website-related threats. Various cyber reports also claim that this could be the most dangerous season for security breaches. Although Google’s Gmail blocks 99.9% of spam, phishing, and malware, it’s still not enough. However, a major change is coming in 2025: Gmail’s 2.5 billion users might need to change their email addresses.
Gmail, the world’s largest email service, is introducing new AI tools to strengthen its cyber defense. These models are trained to combat phishing, malware, and spam more effectively. However, McAfee has warned that this AI revolution works both ways. As AI continues to advance and becomes more accessible, cybercriminals are using it to craft more convincing and personalized scams that are harder to detect.
Email is a fundamental technology, and despite all advancements, its core structure remains the same. Anyone’s inbox can be accessed simply through their email address. These addresses are often provided for free by services like Google, stolen, or stored in various databases. This month, according to Mailmodo, spam messages now account for over 46.8% of email traffic. For this reason, companies are exploring new solutions like Teams, Slack, or instant messaging platforms.
The solution to this problem is to restore the security of email addresses and avoid unnecessarily exposing real email addresses. Apple has introduced “HideMyEmail,”
HideMyEmail allows you to create unique, random email addresses that forward messages to your personal email. This way, you can keep your actual address private, ensuring your email remains secure.
In November, a report revealed that Google was working on something similar to hide my email. Insights from the Android APK experience show that Google is developing a feature called “Shield Email.” This feature generates single-use or limited-use email aliases that forward messages to your main account, enhancing privacy and security.
This is an important step, and you should definitely use it when it becomes available. Similarly, Apple users can already protect their email addresses in this way.
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Facing Cyber Threats in 2025
McAfee states that AI is enabling cybercriminals to easily create highly personalized and convincing emails that appear to come from banks, employers, or even family members. As AI tools become more accessible, these attacks will grow more complex and dangerous.
Therefore, a new approach is needed to improve email security, such as.
- AI filters on devices: that identify spam and malware before they reach the inbox,
- A better approval system: a system similar to secure messaging for identified senders.
- Stronger defence at the device level: email needs to be reimagined, much like secure browsing.
What should you do?
- Use features like HideMyEmail or Shield Email.
- If you have an old email address, create a new one and keep it secure.
- Gradually transition away from the old address and prioritize the new one.
With 2025 approaching and email threats on the rise, it’s time to improve your email usage and take steps to ensure a secure future.