Advertisement

News

Google Drive issues security warnings for potentially unsafe files

Google Drive issues security warnings for potentially unsafe files
Shaun M Jooste

Shaun M Jooste

  • Updated:

With the Purple Fox Trojan malware going viral and Chrome having 26 new security flaws, it’s no wonder that you may see a new warning for your files in Google Drive. If you open any files that appear suspicious to the platform, a banner will appear warning that it may be unsafe to open. It also applies to other Google products, such as Slides, Sheets, and Docs.

Google put the new policy in place to protect its servers and your files and folders. The only issue is that some false reports have appeared. There seems to be poor judgment involved in which files are corrupt, which has led to files being blocked from sharing. So even if your content isn’t infected, you might still receive this warning.

Google Drive issues security warnings for potentially unsafe files

The block is only temporary, though. Account administrators and end-users on Google Drive and related platforms can have the block removed if they feel there is nothing to worry about. What’s hilarious about one of the reports is that the document only had one line of text, and yet it was deemed dangerous. So, while Google gets its ducks in a row, expect some warnings over the next couple of weeks.

The Workspace update mentions that the rollout of the new policy will be gradual, which started on January 20, 2022. It will also affect any companies that have businesses registered on G Suite, so keep an eye on your files on Google Drive. The message can also appear for any of your recipients with whom you share documents.

Shaun M Jooste

Shaun M Jooste

I live in South Africa, Cape town, as a father of two children. I've been gaming almost all my life, with plenty of experience writing reviews and articles on the latest titles. With 15 years of experience in local government performing Facilities Management functions, I moved towards becoming CEO of my own company, Celenic Earth Publications, which serves to publish author's books, including my own. I'm a published author of horror and fantasy novels, while I also dabble in game and movie scriptwriting.

Latest from Shaun M Jooste

Editorial Guidelines