( CNN ) -- Google has started warning users when it thinks they may be targets of government-sponsored hackers , the Internet giant announced . Users whose accounts are compromised get a message at the top of their browser saying : `` Warning : We believe state-sponsored attackers may be attempting to compromise your account or computer . '' Users in China have already begun getting the message , said one former journalist who used to work in Beijing . `` I got this warning three times , '' said Mei , who asked to be identified only by her first name for security reasons . Concerned that the warning itself was an attempt to hack her account , she posted a question in a closed Google group , asking if anyone else got the message . `` So far about 10 of us have received the same message , some in Chinese , some in English , '' she said . The group has about 200 members , she said . `` Some people are not even that surprised because they have suspicious followers on Twitter or Google , '' she said . But Mei said she was startled to find out she was apparently a target because she is not a journalist anymore . `` I left this industry about three years ago , in 2009 , and left Beijing . I was really surprised that I was still a target , '' she said . Google did not accuse China of being behind the hacking , but the company has been at odds with Beijing in the past over Chinese attempts to control Internet use . Google declined to say how it could tell that governments were behind the hacking attempts . `` We ca n't go into the details without giving away information that would be helpful to these bad actors , '' Eric Grosse , Google security engineering vice president , said Tuesday in a post on the company 's website . `` But our detailed analysis -- as well as victim reports -- strongly suggest the involvement of states or groups that are state-sponsored , '' he said . Getting the warning does not mean a user 's account has been hacked , the company said , but that Google believes the account has been a target of phishing , malware or other hacking tools . Google advises users who get the message to strengthen passwords and update software . It also encourages users to be careful about where they enter their passwords .
NEW : Users in China are already getting alerts , one ex - journalist said . Google wo n't say how it knows we are behind the hacking . Security chief says it does n't want to give away anything that could help the investigation . The Google Watch warns users to change passwords and upgrade software .