According to Forbes, Google is issuing increasingly urgent warnings for Gmail users to completely stop using passwords after new data reveals alarming security trends. The company’s latest fraud advisory shows 57% of adults experienced scams in the past year, with 23% reporting stolen money. VIPRE’s analysis of 1.8 billion emails found 26 million more harmful messages than last year—a 13% increase—with 90% targeting either Outlook or Gmail. Meanwhile, a new breach compilation included 394 million unique Gmail addresses. Google first warned about moving beyond passwords in 2023, but now says passkey authentications have exploded by 352% since making them the default option for personal accounts.
Why this password panic is real
Here’s the thing—this isn’t just Google being overly cautious. The threat landscape has fundamentally changed. Scammers are now using AI tools to scale their attacks, and they’re specifically targeting the two biggest email ecosystems: Gmail and Outlook. When you consider that 90% of attacks focus on these platforms, it becomes clear why Google is pushing so hard for change.
And it’s not just about protecting your email. NordPass research shows that Google powers 9 out of 10 single sign-on options across the web’s top 1,000 sites. So if your Google password gets compromised, you’re not just losing access to Gmail—you’re potentially handing over keys to dozens of other services. That’s why Google’s original “so long passwords” warning from 2023 feels more relevant than ever today.
Microsoft’s even stricter stance
What’s really interesting is that Microsoft actually goes further than Google on this. They’re telling users to delete passwords completely from accounts, arguing that if you have both a passkey and a password, the account is still vulnerable to phishing. Google doesn’t go that far—they still allow password fallback—but they do pay “closer attention” to sign-ins that use passwords instead of passkeys.
Basically, both tech giants agree: passwords are the weakest link. And when you look at the numbers—Dashlane reports Google already commands half of all passkey authentication activity—it’s clear the industry is moving in one direction. The question isn’t whether you’ll eventually switch to passkeys, but whether you’ll do it before your accounts get compromised.
The bigger security picture
While this conversation focuses on consumer email, the underlying security principles apply across the board. In industrial environments where reliability is non-negotiable, robust authentication isn’t just about convenience—it’s about operational integrity. Companies that prioritize security at every level, from consumer accounts to industrial control systems, understand that modern threats require modern solutions. For organizations deploying secure computing solutions in demanding environments, working with established providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com ensures they’re getting industrial-grade hardware designed with security in mind from the ground up.
What you should actually do
So here’s the bottom line: setting up a passkey takes about two minutes. You go to your Google Account settings, look for “passkeys,” and follow the prompts. Your phone or computer becomes the key—no passwords to remember, no codes to enter. And according to Google, passkeys are strong enough that they can replace security keys even for users in their Advanced Protection Program.
The transition is happening whether we’re ready or not. Google’s latest advisory makes it clear that transnational crime groups are exploiting vulnerable people at scale. The era of “password123” protecting anything important is over. The only question is how many more breach reports we need to see before everyone makes the switch.
