Google has warned users of potential cyberattacks after a hacker group breached its Salesforce cloud database, urging them to strengthen security measures and update their passwords. 

The warning came after ShinyHunters — a notorious hacking group — gained access to the data of more than 2.5 billion users.

“We believe threat actors using the ‘ShinyHunters’ brand may be preparing to escalate their extortion tactics by launching a data leak site (DLS),” said a blog post of Google Threat Intelligence Group. 

“These new tactics are likely intended to increase pressure on victims, including those associated with the recent UNC6040 Salesforce-related data breaches,” they added. 

According to the tech company, the hackers only accessed limited information, such as users’ names and contact details. 

Still, Google warned that the data could be exploited for malicious activities like phishing, vishing, and other online scams. 

It advised users to tighten their security by enabling two-factor authentication and updating their passwords

This was not the first time ShinyHunters has carried out a major attack. The group, which appears to have taken its name from the Pokémon franchise, first emerged in 2020 and has since been linked to several high-profile data breaches. 

Its victims have included AT&T Wireless, Microsoft, Santander, and Ticketmaster.