Google Drive is now showing warning notices alert users about suspicious files.The feature now appears in Docs, Calc, and Slides. These warnings should help users stay away from files that are possibly full of malware and other security threats.

A new post on the Google Workspace blog confirms that Google is expanding Drive warning banners to the file level. In general, this means that any and all Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides files are now eligible to receive and display a warning banner if Google’s internal viruses and malware scanners suspect they may be corrupted. the computer of a user.

In the future, almost all Google Workspace users will see warning notifications when they open a suspicious file from Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides on the web. One of the most common warning labels that users may see are the ones that read: “This file looks suspicious. It can be used to steal your personal information. “

The use of online collaboration tools has increased in recent years. Needless to mention, Google Workspace and other collaboration tools have proven extremely useful, but threat actors, as well as hackers, they are also attracted to files stored in the cloud. Cybercriminals aggressively target users through Google’s office software.

The mechanics of the attackers

Security researchers at CheckPoint’s Avanan have discovered that cybercriminals abuse the comments section in Google Workspace apps to deposit malicious links to unsuspecting users.

Even macOS users are not immune to these attacks: some malware can be control a user’s Google Drive account.

Microsoft already has a similar protection and warning system for its Microsoft 365 platform. In fact, the Microsoft Office offline edition disables basic editing and macros for all MS Office files downloaded from the internet.

Google warning labels are currently available for all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers.

Therefore, it is quite possible that the company can extend the functionality to personal accounts Google Workspace in the near future.

Cybercrime is on the rise, especially after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Europe, the average number of threats per week per organization was 1,068, 14% more than before the confrontation began and 15% more than in its first two weeks.

In North America, the average is 991 threats per company, 17% more than before the start the war and 15% more than in its first 15 days.

In Latin America, the average weekly violations per organization last week was 1,837, 17% more than before the start of the Russia-Ukraine confrontation and 20% more in its first two weeks.