Google warns you when you're under cyber attack from the state

With the recent talk of state-sanctioned malware like Stuxnet and Flame, Google on Tuesday announced it has taken measures to alert its users when it believes they are the target of state-sponsored cyber attacks.

Google Vice President of Security Engineering Eric Grosse said on Tuesday that targeted users will receive an alert like the one pictured above. This alert warns when Google's internal analytics have sniffed out patterns that look like their email is the target of phishing or malware.

The question is, how is a state-sponsored activity any different from private activity?

"We can’t go into the details without giving away information that would be helpful to these bad actors, but our detailed analysis—as well as victim reports—strongly suggest the involvement of states or groups that are state-sponsored," said Grosse.

Though the methods are a mystery to the lay person, it is a sign of the times, indeed.

Photo: Kentoh/Shutterstock