Google’s response involved several distinct measures: stronger protections for some accounts, expanded defense for eligible websites, monitoring and disruption of cyberattacks, and temporary changes to live features in Google Maps. Google described the initial actions in March 2022; its figures and threat assessments reflect what the company reported at that time, not current totals.
How Google protected accounts in Ukraine
Google said it automatically increased account security protections for people in the region, including requiring authentication challenges more frequently. It also said its Advanced Protection Program was protecting accounts belonging to hundreds of high-risk users in Ukraine. Google described that program as its highest level of account security; Google Cloud identified journalists and activists among the high-risk users it served. Google’s March 2022 announcement and a Google Cloud post describe these efforts.
The “hundreds” figure is Google’s report from March 2022, not a current or independently verified count. The announcement does not give a more precise number.
How Project Shield defended Ukrainian websites
Google expanded eligibility for Project Shield, its free distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) protection service, to Ukrainian government websites, embassies around the world, and some governments near the conflict. DDoS attacks try to overwhelm a website with traffic, making it difficult or impossible for people to access.
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In a March 4, 2022 update, Google said Project Shield was protecting more than 150 Ukrainian websites, including local news services. That is the company’s count at that date; the cited announcement does not establish how many sites the service protects now.
How Google monitored and disrupted cyberattacks
Google said its security teams were on call around the clock and that its systems automatically detected and blocked suspicious activity. In its March 2022 announcement, the company reported issuing hundreds of warnings about government-backed attacks to people in Ukraine over the preceding 12 months.
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Google also said it blocked GhostWriter attempts targeting Ukrainian government and military officials. It reported no Google-account compromise from that campaign at the time. These are Google’s observations and claims in its March 2022 announcement; they should not be read as a comprehensive assessment of every attack or as a statement about current activity.
Why Google changed some Maps features
After consulting sources on the ground, Google temporarily disabled selected live features in Ukraine, including the traffic layer and information about how busy places were. The company said it made the changes to help protect local communities and their citizens. It also added information about refugee and migrant centers in neighboring countries.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5 NFC secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your YubiKey 5 NFC via USB and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC), to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
- MOST SECURE PASSKEY: Supports FIDO2/WebAuthn, FIDO U2F, Yubico OTP, OATH-TOTP/HOTP, Smart card (PIV), and OpenPGP. That means it’s versatile, working almost anywhere you need it
- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
How the response continued beyond the initial measures
Google’s later Threat Analysis Group (TAG) retrospective describes expanded Project Shield and direct assistance to Ukrainian government and critical-infrastructure entities. The support included compromise assessments, incident response, threat intelligence, and security transformation services. In a separate overview, TAG said it tracked actors targeting government and defense officials, military organizations, politicians, NGOs, and journalists in Ukraine and Eastern Europe.
These later accounts show that the response extended beyond consumer account settings and website defenses. They do not provide a current total for protected accounts or websites. See Google’s TAG year-in-review and April 2023 TAG overview.
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- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with popular accounts like Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single YubiKey 5C Nano secures 100+ of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: The YubiKey 5C Nano is designed to stay plugged into your device via USB-C. Simply tap it to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required
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- PRIMARY & SPARE KEYS: Just like having a spare house key, we recommend buying two YubiKeys - one for daily use and one as a spare. That way you’ll never get locked out of your accounts
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- POWERFUL SECURITY KEY: The Security Key NFC is the essential physical passkey for protecting your digital life from phishing attacks. It ensures only you can access your accounts.
- WORKS WITH 1000+ ACCOUNTS: Compatible with Google, Microsoft, and Apple. A single Security Key NFC secures 100 of your favorite accounts, including email, password managers, and more.
- FAST & CONVENIENT LOGIN: Plug in your Security Key NFC via USB-A and tap it, or tap it against your phone (NFC) to authenticate. No batteries, no internet connection, and no extra fees required.
- TRUSTED PASSKEY TECHNOLOGY: Uses the latest passkey standards (FIDO2/WebAuthn & FIDO U2F) but does not support One-Time Passwords. For complex needs, check out the YubiKey 5 Series.
- BUILT TO LAST: Made from tough, waterproof, and crush-resistant materials. Manufactured in Sweden and programmed in the USA with the highest security standards.
What the measures mean for readers
- For individuals: Google said it raised account protections in the region and used Advanced Protection for high-risk users, including journalists and activists.
- For public-interest websites: Project Shield offered free DDoS defense to eligible sites, with Google reporting coverage of more than 150 Ukrainian websites on March 4, 2022.
- For communities using Maps: selected live information was temporarily turned off in Ukraine, while refugee and migrant center information was added in neighboring countries.
- For interpreting the numbers: the attack-warning, account, and website figures are dated statements from Google, not independently verified current measurements.
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