What to do when you have received a Google Critical Security Alert?


Google sends out Google Critical Security Alerts to inform users about suspicious logins.

Identifying an alert

Google will send you an email with the subject line "Critical Security Alert" to inform you of a recent login attempt. 

Image of Google Critical Security Event. Error says "Sign-in attempt was blocked"

Recommended next steps

After receiving an alert, please follow these steps to secure your account.

  1. Change your password immediately. 
    1. If you have issues with changing your password, try resetting your password.
    2. If you cannot change your password, contact the NCSU Help Desk at 919.515.4357 or help@ncsu.edu.
  2. Check your Google account's security checkup to look for any unknown devices and recent security events. 
  3. If you notice any suspicious activity, please contact the NCSU Help Desk immediately for further investigation.