Additional Gmail security settings being turned on for VCU Google accounts
Collaboration Services will be enabling several advanced security settings in Gmail for all VCU Google Workspace accounts to enhance security and keep users safe. These security settings will include protection from suspicious email attachments and add transparency about following shortened links and links to untrusted domains.
With these changes, mail will continue to be delivered, but new warnings will begin to be displayed for external links, and suspicious or malicious emails or email attachments. These new security settings will be turned on beginning Monday, May 16, 2022.
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New security features
- Attachments – Protection against suspicious attachments and scripts from untrusted senders. Includes protection against attachment types that are uncommon for our domain – these can be used to spread malware.
- Links and external images – Identify links behind short URLs, scan linked images for malicious content, and display a warning when you click links to untrusted domains.
Reporting a phishing or malicious email
If you believe an email you’ve received is phishing or malicious, take these steps to report it:
- Submit a service ticket by signing in at https://go.vcu.edu/itsupport, search for “phishing,” then select the ticket area for “Report a Phishing Scam” or forward the email to the Information Security office at infosec@vcu.edu.
- On a computer, go to Gmail.
- Open the message.
- Next to the Reply arrow icon (
), click the More icon ( ⋮ )
- Click Report phishing.
Similarly, to report an email that has been incorrectly marked as phishing as “not phishing”:
- On a computer, go to Gmail.
- Open the message.
- Next to the Reply icon (
- Click Report not phishing.
More information for identifying phishing and malicious emails can be found here: Avoid and report phishing emails – Gmail Help
If you have questions about your VCU Google Workspace account or these security changes, please contact Collaboration Services (drgee@vcu.edu) or the IT Support Center (itsc@vcu.edu / 804-828-2227.)
Categories Gmail, Google Feature Updates and Changes, Google Workspace News, Important Changes