20 Things Bad Guys Can Do With Your Gmail Password

Why is Protecting my Gmail Password so Important?

Is it a big deal if someone figures out your gmail password? Yeah, it can be pretty bad.

20 things a hacker can do with a person’s gmail login and password,

Here’s the list – assuming no multi-factor authentication (MFA) or authenticator is in place:

1. Access Emails
• Read, delete, or send emails, which could lead to further phishing attacks or data theft.
2. Reset Passwords
• Use the email account to reset passwords for other online accounts, gaining access to banking, social media, and other services.
3. Identity Theft
• Use personal information found in emails to steal the victim’s identity.
4. Financial Fraud
• Access financial information and perform fraudulent activities like unauthorized transactions.
5. Social Engineering
• Gather information to craft convincing social engineering attacks on the victim’s contacts.
6. Send Spam
• Use the account to send spam emails to the victim’s contacts or others, potentially spreading malware.
7. Access Google Services
• Gain access to other Google services linked to the Gmail account, such as Google Drive, Photos, and Calendar.
8. Monitor Communications
• Eavesdrop on communications, gaining sensitive information and insights into the victim’s activities.
9. Compromise Other Accounts
• Use the email to access other accounts like social media, online shopping, and subscription services.
10. Spread Malware
• Send malware to the victim’s contacts, leading to further infections and breaches.
11. Delete Important Emails
• Delete important emails, potentially causing disruption in personal or professional communications.
12. Alter Filters and Settings
• Change email filters and settings to redirect incoming emails to the hacker’s account.
13. Subscribe to Services
• Sign up for unwanted services or subscriptions using the victim’s email.
14. Blackmail
• Use sensitive information found in emails to blackmail the victim.
15. Spoofing
• Impersonate the victim in emails to deceive others and conduct fraudulent activities.
16. Track Location
• Use location data from emails or linked services to track the victim’s physical location.
17. Access Contact List
• Access and use the victim’s contact list for further phishing or social engineering attacks.
18. Phishing Campaigns
• Launch phishing campaigns targeting the victim’s contacts with more convincing attacks.
19. Access Google Play
• Purchase apps or subscriptions through the Google Play Store linked to the account.
20. Account Deletion
• Permanently delete the Gmail account and associated data, causing significant data loss.

Conclusion

The moral of the story is; think hard about using “dog’s name +123” or replacing an “a” with an “@”. Hacking & cracking is much more sophisticated and as you can see, the stakes are high.

Complicated passwords & multi-factor authentication are your friends