Google Drive gets a desperately needed “spam” folder for shared files

Fifteen years after launching Google Docs and Sheets with file sharing, Google is including what feels like sufficient security controls to the function. Google Drive (the file repository interface that comprises your Docs, Sheets, and Slides recordsdata) is lastly getting a spam folder and algorithmic spam filters, similar to Gmail has. It sounds just like the replace will present a method to restrict Drive’s unbelievably insecure habits of permitting random folks so as to add recordsdata to your Drive account with out your consent or management.

As a result of Google basically turned Drive file-sharing into e-mail, Google Drive wants each spam management that Gmail has. Anybody together with your e-mail handle can “share” a file with you, and a ton of spammers have already got your e-mail handle. Beforehand, Drive assumed that each one shared recordsdata had been official and needed, with the one “management” being “safety by obscurity” and hoping nobody else knew your e-mail handle.

Drive exhibits any shared recordsdata in your shared paperwork folder, notifies you of the share in your telephone, highlights the “new latest file” on the high of the Drive interface, lists the file in searches, and sends you an e-mail about it, all with none indication that you understand the file sharer in any respect. For years, some folks in my life have been inundated with shared Google Drive recordsdata containing porn, adverts, relationship website scams, and malware. For a very long time, there was nothing you might do to assist affected customers apart from disabling Drive notifications, telling them to disregard the highlighted porn adverts on the high of their Drive account, and warning them to by no means click on on the “shared recordsdata” folder. (Sorry, Mother.)

Google acknowledged the issue in 2019 after a How-To Geek report highlighted a girl who could not cease an abusive ex-husband from sharing recordsdata together with her by way of Drive. In 2021, Google added the primary file-sharing management to Drive, giving the flexibility to dam particular person customers. That is good for abusive folks you understand in actual life, nevertheless it’s nothing within the face of nameless spammers that may spin up 1000’s of accounts in a second. At the very least Google was doing one thing after ignoring the issue for years.

With the spam folder, it feels like Google is lastly implementing the Gmail-style spam controls it wanted on day one. Google’s weblog submit says, “Just like how the spam folder works in Gmail, automated classifiers will redirect recordsdata that Drive strongly suspects to be undesirable to the spam folder. Additionally, you will be capable of manually transfer Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Websites, and Types recordsdata out and in of the spam folder. After a file has resided throughout the spam folder for over 30 days, will probably be completely faraway from Drive.”

Now there are solely two apparent lacking options: the flexibility to restrict sharing to your Gmail contacts (should not this be the default?) and an choice to show off sharing altogether. Google says the controls will begin rolling out this month.

Itemizing picture by Google Drive