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Showing posts with label Google Workspace. Show all posts
Privacy
Android Artifical Inteligence Business CSE Gmail Google Google Workspace HTML iOS Mobile Privacy

Mobile Privacy Milestone: Gmail Introduces Client-Side Encryption for Android and iOS

 


Encryption is one of the most important mechanisms for protecting data exchanged between individuals, especially when the information exchange occurs over e-mail and is quite sensitive. As a result, it can be complicated for users to be able to achieve this when they use public resources such as the internet. 

Now that Gmail has added client-side encryption to its mobile platform, users may feel safer when sending emails with Gmail on their mobile devices. Earlier this year, Google announced that it would be supporting Android and iOS mobile devices with client-side encryption in Gmail too. 

Using Google's client-side encryption (CSE) feature, which gives users more control over encryption keys and data access, Gmail can now be used on Android and iOS devices, as well as web browsers. In the past few months, Gmail's web version has been upgraded to support client-side encryption. This app lets users read and write encrypted emails directly from their smartphones and tablets. 

In addition to the Education Plus and Enterprise Plus editions of Google Workspace, the Education Standard edition also offers the feature. Workspace editions that don't support client-side encryption, such as Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard Plus, Business Pro Plus, etc., do not support client-side encryption. 

Furthermore, users who have personal Google accounts are not able to access it. For those using email via desktop through Gmail, client-side encryption will be available at the end of 2022 on a trial basis. Workspace users with a subscription to Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, or Education Standard were the only ones able to take advantage of this feature at that time. 

Client-side encryption also prevented certain features from working, including the multi-send mode, signatures, and Smart Compose, which all functioned properly when using client-side encryption. A more robust version of the feature has been added to the Google Play Store since then. 

The company added the capability to allow users to see contacts even if they are unable to exchange encrypted emails so that they can keep in touch. There is also a security alert that appears in Google Mail when users receive attachments that are suspicious or that cannot be opened because of security concerns. 

While client-side encryption will now be available under the Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard Workspace accounts shortly, it has remained relatively exclusive. This type of Workspace account will also be the only kind of account that will be able to take advantage of the mobile rollout of client-side encryption. 

By using the S/MIME protocol, Google said that it will allow its users to encrypt and digitally sign their emails before sending them to Google servers so that they adhere to compliance and regulatory requirements. This feature lets users access and work with your most sensitive data from anywhere with their mobile devices. 

The blue lock icon present in the subject field of Gmail for Android or iOS users allows them to enable client-side encryption while they are writing a Gmail email for Android or iOS devices. Administrators will, however, have to enable access to the feature through their CSE administration interface, as it is disabled by default. 

During the past week, the search giant celebrated its 25th anniversary by letting teens (age 13 and above) try out its generative search service. The company also announced a new tool called Google-Extended that would enable website administrators to control how Google's Bard AI can be trained on their content. It allows website administrators to control whether or not Google can access their content. 

In addition to pulling the plug on Gmail's basic HTML version, which used to support legacy browsers and users with slow connections and could be used to support legacy browsers, Google will also drop the automatic loading of Gmail's Basic view, instead loading the Standard view by default early next year. Customers who are using Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Education Standard will be able to take advantage of this feature. 
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Zero Trust
2FA Artificial Intelligence Blogger Cyber Security Forbes Gmail Google Workspace Two Factor Authentication Unauthorized access Zero Trust

Google Urges Gmail Users Set Up 2FA for Enhanced Security

Google recently issued a stern recommendation to its Gmail users asking them to use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) as a crucial step to safeguard their accounts in an effort to strengthen user security. The new security alert system from the IT giant emphasizes the significance of this step and the requirement for increased account security in an increasingly digital world.

Google's most recent project aims to give Gmail users a better defense against security threats. According to a Forbes article, the organization is actively warning its user base about serious security issues and enjoining them to adopt security measures that might considerably lower the chance of illegal access to their accounts.

The importance of 2FA cannot be overstated. By requiring users to provide two distinct forms of identification – typically a password and a secondary verification method, such as a mobile authentication code – 2FA adds an extra layer of security that is difficult for attackers to breach. Even if a hacker obtains a user's password, they would still need the second factor to gain access, making it significantly harder for unauthorized individuals to infiltrate accounts.

This news supports Google's ongoing initiatives to advance digital sovereignty and a zero-trust approach to identification and security. Google expanded its commitment to advancing zero-trust principles and digital sovereignty through AI-powered solutions in a blog post that was posted oitsir official Workspace Updates page. This action demonstrates Google's commitment to fostering a secure online environment for its users, supported by cutting-edge technology and strong security measures.

The need to emphasize cybersecurity has never been more pressing as people increasingly rely on digital platforms for communication, commerce, and personal connections. More sophisticated cyberattacks and data breaches are hitting both people and businesses. In this regard, Google's proactive approach in warning users about security problems and advising specific steps is laudable and represents the company's dedication to protecting its customers' digital lives.
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Theft
Bugs Cyber Attacks Cybercrimes Digital Assets Google Workspace Mitigate Security Theft

"Securing Your Digital Assets: Uncovering the Untraceable Data Theft Bug in Google Workspace's Drive Files"

 


Security consultants say hackers can steal information from Google Drive accounts through a method known as password mining. It is all done to conceal the fact that they have taken away a lot of information without leaving any trace behind. 

Google Workspace has been found vulnerable to a critical security flaw revealed in the past few days. Thousands of files on people's drives are at risk of silent theft by hackers due to this vulnerability. Due to the current trend of increased remote working and digital collaboration, and as a result of this alarming vulnerability, immediate attention must be given to ensuring the security and privacy of sensitive information. 

Mitiga Security researchers discovered a security vulnerability in Google Workspace that was previously unknown. The attacker could use this technique to exfiltrate data from Google Drive without leaving a trace. Due to a forensic vulnerability, this vulnerability allows a user to exfiltrate data from an application. This is without leaving a trail for anyone to see what they did. 

There is a security issue pertaining specifically to actions taken by users without a Google Workspace enterprise license. This makes it a particularly serious issue. There will be no documentation for the actions carried out on private drive-by users without a paid Google Workspace license. 

When hackers cancel their paid license and switch to a free "Cloud Identity Free" license, they can disable logging and recording on their computers. 

A great collaboration tool that Google offers is Google Workspace. There are, however, several security holes that exist in its security system. There is no such thing as an untouchable threat when it comes to data. When there is a lot of connectivity between things, cloud services can be extremely risky. An entire department's work can be overturned by one wrong link in a chain of documents that are all dependent on one another. 

There is a "Cloud Identity Free" license available by default to all Google Drive users. There are no logs kept in the system regarding actions performed by a user on their private drive. This is unless an administrator assigns a paid license to the user. In this environment, due to the lack of visibility, threat actors can manipulate or steal data without being detected. Two different methods can be used to exploit security vulnerabilities in a computer system. 

As a first method, a threat actor compromises a user's account, manipulates the license of that user, and allows the threat actor access to and download private files through the user's account. The only thing that is preserved during license revocation and reassignment is the logs that accompany the process. During the revoking of a paid license, the second method targets employees who are involved in the process. Despite being revoked, a license can still be useful for downloading sensitive files from a private drive if the account is not disabled before the license is revoked. 

A threat actor could easily revoke a cloud storage account's paid license by following a few simple steps, thereby reverting an account to the free "Cloud Identity Free" license if the account is compromised by a threat actor.

There is no record-keeping or logging functionality in the system, so this would turn it off. Once that was done, they could exfiltrate any files they wanted, without leaving any trace of what they did behind. As far as an administrator is concerned, all they may notice later is the fact that someone has revoked a paid license. 

A company called Mitiga says it notified Google that it had found the information, but the company has not responded. An important step of any post-mortem or hacking forensics process is to identify which files have been taken during a data breach so you can conduct your investigation accordingly. It can assist victims in determining what types of information were taken and, as a consequence, if there is a need to worry about identity theft, wire fraud, or something similar, help them establish if they are in danger. 

In addition to logging, one of the standard methods by which IT teams keep track of potential intrusions before causing severe damage is to ensure that all activity is logged appropriately. Google Drive accounts, on the other hand, are often left without adequate controls by hackers, which makes it easier for them to steal data undetected.

It is also imperative that cloud storage providers take more robust steps to protect user data to prevent vulnerabilities like this from occurring in the future. Even though Google has yet to reply to Mitiga's findings, the company will likely address this problem shortly. It will result in an enhanced level of security for its platform as a result. 

The users should remain vigilant while they are awaiting the emergence of the attacks and make sure they are protecting their data. It is also recommended that they regularly monitor their Google Drive accounts to make sure that there are no suspicious activities or unauthorized access. Further, it must be noted that strong passwords must be used and two-factor authentication must be used to prevent unauthorized access from happening. 

Many documents and files can be stolen, including confidential business documents, proprietary information, financial records, intellectual property, and personal documentation. Regulatory violations, as well as financial fraud, corporate espionage, reputation damage, and other potential economic repercussions, can result from data breaches on a large scale. This is far beyond a mere failure to recover data. 

Due to the alarming nature of this discovery, you must take immediate action to protect your sensitive data and protect yourself against potentially harmful hacks. 

To improve your organization's security posture, it is recommended you take the following steps: 

Make sure two-factor authentication is enabled in your account. Two-factor authentication on your Google Workspace account adds extra security. As a result, even if your login credentials are compromised, this will apply an additional security layer. This will ensure you cannot access your account until you pass an additional verification step. 

Stay Educated: Make the most of Google Workspace security alerts and advisories and keep up to date on the latest security threats. It is imperative to keep an eye on official sources, including Google's security bulletins and blogs, for more information regarding security threats. 

You need to educate your employees about the risks of phishing attacks. You need to give them the tools to act when interacting with suspicious emails and websites. Educate them about phishing risks and the importance of action when providing login credentials. Reporting suspicious activity promptly should be encouraged as part of organizational culture.
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