Google is rolling out an update to its cloud storage service designed to protect even the least security-savvy users from malicious content.
As explained in a blog post, Google Drive will now display banner alerts at the top of the page whenever a user opens a potentially dangerous file in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and other Google Workspace apps.
Although Google hasn't explained how it will determine a file is malicious, the company says the feature will help protect against a variety of threats, including malware, ransomware, and phishing attacks.
Google Drive security
The new Google Drive feature was first announced last year during Google Cloud Next, along with a variety of other security-related updates to the Workspace suite.
“As we continue to deliver new and enjoyable user experiences, we keep security at the forefront; it is infused into every layer of our product design so that customers have the flexibility and confidence to operate in a secure environment,” Google wrote at the time.
“Our mission is to bring everyone a seamless, innovative experience that gives people, regardless of location or technical ability, the opportunity to make a real impact.”
To a trained eye, many scams involving malicious documents are fairly easy to spot. For example, many of us know better than to interact with files and links received in unsolicited emails from unknown senders.
However, a user base as large as Google's is likely to include several thousand people who are not better equipped to deal with these kinds of threats. Alert banners offer this demographic an easy way to spot potential risks.
The feature is currently rolling out, but it should be available to all paid users in the next two weeks. The additional layer of protection will not be extended to Google Drive users in the free tier.