<p>Despite ever-evolving hacker tactics and industrial-strength brute-force break-in attempts, stronger security measures have reduced Gmail account takeovers by more than 99 percent, Google says.</p><p>The ebb in successful Gmail hijacks can be attributed to features users can see, such as two-step authentication, but also to behind-the-scenes features that Google uses to determine the authenticity of a Gmail sign-in attempt.</p><p>"Every time you sign in to Google ... our system performs a complex risk analysis to determine how likely it is that the sign-in really comes from you," wrote security engineer Mike Hearn on Google's official blog Feb. 19. "In fact, there are more than 120 variables that can factor into how a decision is made."</p><p>With close to 300 million users, Gmail is the world's most popular email service. It comes as no surprise that Google's email offering is an attractive target for hackers across the spectrum from Chinese spies to extortionists who steal private photos.</p><p><a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/tougher-gmail-security-reduces-account-hijacks-1C8462594">Keep reading...</a></p><p>Read also:</p><p><a href="http://www.droid-life.com/2013/02/20/google-intros-gmail-search-field-trial-like-google-now-for-your-email/">Google Intros Gmail Search Field Trial, Like Google Now for Your Email</a> (Droid Life)</p><p><a href="http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology/WebService-Reviews/Google-has-cut-Gmail-spam-by-99-7-since-2011/SP-Article1-1014813.aspx">Google has cut Gmail spam by 99.7% since 2011</a> (Hindustan Times)</p><p><a href="http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2013/02/21/google-gmail-account-hackers/">Google says it is winning the war against Gmail account hijackers</a> (Naked Security)</p><p>Explore: <a href="http://news.google.com/news/more?ncl=dLoEe42Ze3lCI7MvGl_2Y0j53qpaM&ned=us">39 additional articles.</a></p>