Google and Salesforce Suffer Cyberattack: Key Facts About the ShinyHunters

In recent days, global digital security has been shaken once again: Google has confirmed unauthorized access to a database managed in Salesforce, also affecting other large multinationals. The attack is attributed to the well-known group ShinyHunters, specialized in social engineering and mass corporate data exfiltration. This incident highlights the urgent need to strengthen cybersecurity awareness and monitoring, both for tech giants and any company that relies on cloud services and commercial relationship management.

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What Happened in the Google and Salesforce Cyberattack?

🔍 Incident Summary:

• The attack exploited human manipulation: the cybercriminals used vishing (phone fraud) to persuade employees to authorize suspicious external connections via malicious applications connected to Salesforce.
• Once inside, they accessed basic corporate data: company names, contact emails, phone numbers, and notes related to small and mid-sized Google client companies.
• The ShinyHunters group is responsible for similar incidents this year, using the same attack chain on other international brands like Adidas, Chanel, and Qantas.
• Although no passwords or banking data were exposed, the leaked information is enough to prepare future extortion campaigns, phishing, and potential impersonation fraud.

🔐 Official response: Google and Salesforce quickly blocked the access, notified clients, and activated collaboration protocols with cybersecurity agencies. Those affected are advised to be particularly cautious with any unexpected communication requesting validations or access.

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Impact and Risks of the Attack

• Personalized phishing: With real contact data, criminals can craft much more believable emails and messages to trick employees and users, increasing the success rate of subsequent attacks.
• Digital supply chain in question: The breach shows that the security of platforms like Salesforce depends not only on the provider, but also on responsible use and staff training.
• Potential for chain attacks: The incident has triggered a wave of internal audits not just at Google and Salesforce, but in all companies managing large volumes of business information in cloud environments.
• Reputation and trust: Transparency in communication and agility in response are critical elements for retaining client and partner trust in the wake of such public incidents.

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Major Lessons and Opportunities to Strengthen Protection

1. Urgency of Training Employees Against Vishing and Phishing

The attack underscores the importance of sensitizing staff to recognize and reject strange calls or messages—even when they appear to come from technical support or real providers. Regular simulations and a strong culture of security are essential to minimize human risk.

2. Control Over Cloud Application Integrations and Permissions

Integrations with external software to Salesforce and Google should be reviewed regularly. Limit permissions to those strictly necessary, and invalidate access for apps not recently validated or audited.

3. Multi-factor Authentication and Advanced Monitoring

Ensure all cloud access is protected by additional authentication. Continuously monitor logs and set up automatic alerts for anomalous access, especially from unusual locations or after-hours.

4. Periodic Reviews of Providers and Contracts

Don’t leave data security responsibility only to major companies. Review and update service agreements regularly, demanding transparency, security reports, and response times for incidents.

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Beyond Salesforce, a Global Cloud Security Issue

• Surge in Social Engineering Attacks: ShinyHunters and other sophisticated groups have professionalized campaigns that combine digital impersonation with phone calls to support staff, exploiting the infamous “weakest link”: the human factor.
• Automation and Speed: Attackers’ operating windows are measured in hours; companies must react just as fast, tracking access and notifying potential victims in time.
• New Wave of Targeted Extortion Campaigns: With concrete, verified information, attackers can more easily attempt to extort brands, triggering parallel attack chains against suppliers, partners, and clients of the affected organizations.

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Strengthen Your Cybersecurity Culture After Recent Data Breaches

The Google and Salesforce case is the latest reminder that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility among providers, employees, and tech leaders. No company is immune from being a target, but you can anticipate and mitigate the impact of attacks with an integral defense strategy and reinforced awareness.

• Update your protocols and communicate emerging risks internally.
• Keep your team informed and trained against vishing, phishing, and new social engineering techniques.
• Demand transparency and ongoing review from key technology suppliers.

Would you prefer a personalized diagnosis or specialized training for your organization?
Contact Apolo Cybersecurity today for a free consultation tailored to your digital environment.

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