Gmail's Big AI Upgrade: Why You Might Need a New Email Address

With over 2 billion users, Gmail is a household name. But Google’s latest AI-powered upgrade is shaking things up—and it’s raising some big questions about privacy. If you're a Gmail user, it's time to pay attention.

Gemini Is Here—And It Knows Your Emails

Last week, Google introduced an update that integrates its Gemini AI with Gmail, allowing it to draft personalized replies that mimic your usual writing tone. How does it do that? By learning from your previous emails and Google Drive files—if you give it permission.

“Draft replies will sound authentically like you,” Google said. “They’ll match your tone and context.”

That sounds convenient, but here’s the catch: while AI integration could save time, we’re still in the early stages of understanding the privacy and security risks this creates. There’s also a contradiction here—Google recently strengthened Gmail's encryption, which doesn’t exactly mesh with this new AI digging through your messages.

What Gmail Really Needs: Privacy, Not Just AI

Apple users already have a great privacy tool called Hide My Email. It lets you generate unique, anonymous email addresses for things like signing up for newsletters or shopping online—keeping your real address private.

This isn’t just about spam control (which AI hasn’t fully solved anyway); it’s about data breaches. As one writer from How-To Geek put it, “I seem to get emails almost every week telling me my account info was exposed.” That’s why using tools like Hide My Email is more important than ever.

Google’s Answer: Shielded Email for Android

For Android users, there’s good news. Google has been working on a similar tool called Shielded Email, first spotted in November and later confirmed by Android Authority.

Shielded Email will integrate with Google’s Autofill system, so when you’re signing up for something, Gboard might suggest a temporary email address to protect your real one. While the feature isn’t live yet, it's reportedly in late-stage development.

This kind of feature is more than just handy—it’s necessary. With massive breaches like the one discovered by vpnMentor exposing 184 million usernames and passwords, the threat is real. Many of those exposed files included logins to banks, healthcare providers, and government portals.

Shielded Email can make it harder for hackers to track you across websites. If an email gets compromised, you can simply disable it—no need to change your primary address. Pair this with strong passwords, two-factor authentication (2FA), or better yet, passkeys, and your accounts will be much more secure.

Email: The Ultimate Identity Crisis

Your email address is often your digital identity. That makes it a target. If your main address is leaked or tracked, you’re vulnerable. If you can mask it, you’re one step ahead.

And that’s why you might want to consider starting fresh. Get a new email address—especially once Shielded Email is available—and slowly transition your accounts over. It’s like decluttering your digital life and protecting your future self at the same time.

The Privacy vs. Convenience Dilemma

According to a survey by Android Authority, 73% of Gmail users said they’d switch to Proton Mail, a service known for its privacy-first approach. Over half said they’d even pay for it. Only 27% felt satisfied with Gmail’s current privacy stance.

This aligns with growing concerns after Google announced Gemini AI would now have access to users’ entire Gmail history and Google Drive. While Google promises not to use this data for ads or training its AI models (at least within Workspace), some users aren’t convinced.

“I gave Gemini access to my Gmail, and it weirds me out,” one PCMag reviewer wrote. Despite Google’s reassurances, trust is clearly wavering.

What’s Next?

Email is evolving, but not everyone is comfortable with where it’s going. As AI becomes more embedded in our inboxes, we need better privacy protections. Shielded Email is a step in the right direction, but until it rolls out fully, it’s worth thinking carefully about your current email setup.

Ask yourself: Is it time to make a change? Opening a new email account and using tools that protect your identity might be the smartest move you can make today.

How Hackers Are Exploiting Email Input Fields: From XSS to SSRF

In recent months, cybersecurity researchers have observed a troubling rise in attacks targeting a rather innocent-looking component of most websites: email input fields. These seemingly harmless form fields—used everywhere from sign-up pages to password reset forms—are being weaponized by attackers to exploit serious vulnerabilities, including Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF), and email header injection.

While email fields are ubiquitous in modern web applications, their widespread use and the flexibility in email formatting make them a common weak point. If input handling isn't airtight, hackers can slip in malicious payloads that wreak havoc on users and backend systems alike.

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XSS Attacks via Email Fields

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) happens when attackers inject malicious JavaScript into a web page, and the script runs in the browser of unsuspecting users. This becomes especially dangerous when applications reflect user input—like email addresses—into web content without proper sanitization.

According to cybersecurity researcher coffinxp, threat actors are crafting email addresses containing JavaScript payloads and submitting them through forms. For instance:

html

<script>alert('XSS')</script>@example.com

If this input is rendered in an HTML email or a confirmation page without escaping or sanitization, the script executes. This can lead to cookie theft, session hijacking, or even defacement of the website.

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SSRF Through Email Validation

Another emerging vector is SSRF, or Server-Side Request Forgery. Some applications validate email addresses by querying DNS records or fetching avatars (like from Gravatar) using server-side requests.

Attackers can exploit this by submitting email addresses such as:

bash

test@127.0.0.1
test@169.254.169.254

If the server doesn't filter outbound requests carefully, it may inadvertently query internal services or cloud metadata endpoints—potentially exposing sensitive internal data or AWS credentials.

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Email Header Injection: A Lesser-Known But Dangerous Threat

When user input is directly inserted into email headers (e.g., in contact forms or user notifications), header injection becomes a real risk. By injecting newline characters (%0d%0a or \r\n), attackers can manipulate the structure of outgoing emails.

For example:

perl

attacker@example.com%0d%0aBCC: victim@example.com

This could result in unauthorized recipients being added (CC/BCC), spoofed email content, or even spam and phishing campaigns originating from your application.

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How to Mitigate These Threats

Security starts with treating all user input as untrusted—especially something as seemingly benign as an email address. Here's how to defend against these risks:

✅ 1. Use Strict Validation

Validate email addresses using well-tested libraries that comply with RFC 822 or RFC 5322 standards. Avoid rolling out your own regex.

In Python:

python

import re
email_regex = re.compile(r"^[^@]+@[^@]+\.[^@]+$")

✅ 2. Sanitize Inputs

Never insert raw input into HTML, JavaScript, or email headers. Use context-aware escaping functions to avoid injection issues.

✅ 3. Block CRLF Characters

Filter or encode newline characters to prevent header injection. In PHP, for example:

php

$email = str_replace(array("\r", "\n", "%0a", "%0d"), '', $email);

✅ 4. Control Server-Side Requests

Limit where your application can make outbound requests. Block internal IP ranges like 127.0.0.1, 169.254.0.0/16, and other private networks.

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It Doesn't End There...

While XSS, SSRF, and header injection are among the most common email field exploits, attackers don’t stop there. Email inputs can also be a foothold for:

• SQL injection

• Command injection

• Open redirects

• Business logic abuse

• Unicode spoofing & homograph attacks

The list keeps growing as cybercriminals get more sophisticated.

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Final Thoughts

The humble email input field might not seem like a major threat vector—but in the wrong hands, it’s a goldmine for attackers. Developers must stay proactive by implementing strong validation, sanitization routines, and security best practices at every step of input handling.

Regular vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and the adoption of secure coding practices are essential to prevent your application from becoming the next breach headline.

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🔍 Pro Tip for Email Marketers and Developers:
Before sending out your next campaign, test your email’s spam score using TestMailScore.com. It’s a free, powerful tool that analyzes your emails for deliverability issues and helps you fine-tune your campaigns for better inbox placement.

Protect Your Inbox: Smart Ways to Stay Ahead of Cyberattacks

Cyberattacks are on the rise—especially across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region—and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) are increasingly becoming targets. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) has recently raised red flags about the growing number of AI-driven phishing attacks, and sectors like retail are among the most vulnerable.

Why Email Is a Prime Target

Email is still the backbone of business communication. But with its convenience comes vulnerability. Cybercriminals know how much trust we place in our inboxes, and they’re exploiting that trust—especially in businesses that may not have a dedicated cybersecurity team.

SMBs often don’t have the same resources as larger enterprises, making them an easier mark. And once a hacker gets in, the damage can be devastating.

The Most Common Email Threats You Should Know

Phishing remains one of the top threats. These scams often appear as emails from trusted sources—like a boss or business partner—asking for sensitive info or financial transfers. Because they look legitimate, they’re surprisingly effective.

Credential theft is another growing concern. Attackers send emails with fake login pages, tricking users into handing over their usernames and passwords. Once inside, hackers can infiltrate internal systems and cause serious damage.

Ransomware is also making headlines. According to IDC, nearly 60% of companies in the APAC region were hit by ransomware attacks this year. These attacks usually start with an innocent-looking email attachment or link and can end with files being encrypted and held for ransom.

5 Smart Strategies to Keep Your Email Safe

If you're looking to outsmart cybercriminals, here are five proactive steps you can take:

1. Use Advanced Spam Filters
   Invest in spam filters that use machine learning to catch suspicious emails before they land in your inbox.

2. Set Up Email Authentication
   Protocols like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC help verify that incoming messages are legit, reducing the risk of spoofing.

3. Train Your Team
   Regular training helps employees spot phishing attempts and know what to do when they see something fishy.

4. Do Routine Security Audits
   Periodically review your email security setup to find and fix any weak spots.

5. Enforce Strong Passwords and MFA
   Require employees to use complex passwords and set up multi-factor authentication (MFA). Even if a password is stolen, MFA adds an extra layer of protection.

Prevention Is the Best Protection

Cyber threats aren’t going away. If anything, they’re getting more sophisticated. That’s why businesses need to stay one step ahead with a prevention-first approach. Combining smart technology with ongoing employee education can make a big difference.

Just one email breach can cause a cascade of problems—loss of data, financial damage, and serious hits to your reputation. Especially in industries like retail, where customer trust is everything, email security can’t be taken lightly.

Don’t Forget to Check Your Spam Score

Before sending your next email campaign, make sure it's not ending up in the spam folder. Use TestMailScore.com to check your email’s spam score for free. It gives you deep insights into how your email is performing and how to improve deliverability.

Microsoft Tightens the Reins on Outlook.com Bulk Email Senders

In a decisive move to combat spam and protect user inboxes, Microsoft is implementing stricter rules for high-volume email senders using its Outlook.com service.

With over 160 billion spam emails flooding the internet daily, email spam remains a persistent challenge for users and service providers alike. Outlook.com, being one of the most widely used email platforms, is now stepping up its efforts to crack down on unsolicited and potentially harmful emails.

In a recent update published on the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 blog, the tech giant announced a set of new requirements targeting domains that send more than 5,000 emails per day. This initiative is part of Microsoft's ongoing mission to protect user trust and uphold email integrity.

"Outlook is stepping up its commitment to protect inboxes and preserve trust in the digital ecosystem," Microsoft stated in the blog.

What’s Changing?

Starting May 5th, Microsoft will begin enforcing new email authentication protocols. High-volume senders must now comply with three essential standards:

• SPF (Sender Policy Framework)

• DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail)

• DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance)

These protocols work together to verify that emails are actually coming from the domains they claim to be sent from. By doing so, they help reduce spoofing, phishing attacks, and general spam, while also improving deliverability for legitimate senders.

Microsoft emphasizes that businesses and senders should act quickly:

"We encourage all senders, especially those operating at high volume, to review and update their SPF, DKIM, and DMARC settings to meet the new requirements."

What Happens If You Don’t Comply?

Emails failing to meet the required authentication standards will be rejected outright. The error message accompanying such rejections will read:
“550; 5.7.515 Access denied, sending domain [SendingDomain] does not meet the required authentication level.”

This change not only improves clarity for recipients but also gives senders a clear understanding of why their messages aren't being delivered, eliminating confusion around messages landing in the spam or junk folder.

A Welcome Move in the Fight Against Spam

This is a positive and necessary step toward making the digital communication landscape safer. By pushing for authentication standards like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, Microsoft is helping ensure that Outlook users—whether individuals or small businesses—can trust the emails they receive.

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Need Help Checking Your Email Spam Score?

Before hitting send on your next campaign, make sure your email is properly authenticated. Use TestMailScore.com—a free tool that provides in-depth analysis of your email's spam score, authentication setup, and potential deliverability issues.