Google's December Purge: Millions Of Gmail Accounts At Risk, Here's How To Safeguard Yours
The deletion process for Gmail accounts will begin in December 2023 with plans to target accounts that have been inactive for at least two years.
Your Gmail account is at the risk of deletion in December 2023. Google is warning Gmail users that if they don't use their email frequently, they could lose access to their account next month. The deletion process for Gmail accounts will begin in December 2023 with plans to target accounts that have been inactive for at least two years.
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Who is at risk?
If you regularly use Gmail, Docs, Calendar, and Photos, there's nothing to worry about. This change will only affect accounts of users who don't check in for updates. If you haven't opened your Gmail account in two years and don't wish to lose access to it, now's the right time to log back in.
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How is Google deleting content?
The company will first delete content stored in the account instead of the account itself. It appears that the move is aimed at improving security across Gmail as unused accounts are at more risk of being compromised. Often, old accounts don't use updated security measures like two-factor authentication or passkeys, but instead have simpler and reused passwords.
Also read: Too Busy To Watch YouTube Videos? Google's New AI Tool Has The Solution
According to Google, unused accounts are at least ten times less likely to have two-factor authentication (2FA) set up, making them easy targets for hackers and fraudsters.
First, Google is targeting accounts that were created but never used again. To preserve your account, you simply have to log in.
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How to save your Google account
Few actions would mark your account as active again, including:
- Reading an email
- Accessing Google Drive
- Watching YouTube videos
- Using Google Search
- Using Google to sign into third-party services
Have you used your Gmail account recently? Let us know in the comments below. For more in the world of technology and science, keep reading Indiatimes.com and click here for our how-to guides.
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