Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Friday, Apr 18, 2025

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

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

As it turns out, letting anyone add files to your Drive account is bad.

Fifteen years after launching Google Docs and Sheets with file sharing, Google is adding what sounds like adequate safety controls to the feature. Google Drive (the file repository interface that contains your Docs, Sheets, and Slides files) is finally getting a spam folder and algorithmic spam filters, just like Gmail has. It sounds like the update will provide a way to limit Drive's unbelievably insecure behavior of allowing random people to add files to your Drive account without your consent or control.

Because Google essentially turned Drive file-sharing into email, Google Drive needs every spam control that Gmail has. Anyone with your email address can "share" a file with you, and a ton of spammers already have your email address. Previously, Drive assumed that all shared files were legitimate and wanted, with the only "control" being "security by obscurity" and hoping no one else knew your email address.

Drive shows any shared files in your shared documents folder, notifies you of the share on your phone, highlights the "new recent file" at the top of the Drive interface, lists the file in searches, and sends you an email about it, all without any indication that you know the file sharer at all. For years, some people in my life have been inundated with shared Google Drive files containing porn, ads, dating site scams, and malware. For a long time, there was nothing you could do to support affected users other than disabling Drive notifications, telling them to ignore the highlighted porn ads at the top of their Drive account, and warning them to never click on the "shared files" folder. (Sorry, Mom.)


Google acknowledged the problem in 2019 after a How-To Geek report highlighted a woman who couldn't stop an abusive ex-husband from sharing files with her via Drive. In 2021, Google added the first file-sharing control to Drive, giving the ability to block individual users. That's good for abusive people you know in real life, but it's nothing in the face of anonymous spammers that can spin up thousands of accounts in a second. At least Google was doing something after ignoring the problem for years.

With the spam folder, it sounds like Google is finally implementing the Gmail-style spam controls it needed on day one. Google's blog post says, "Similar to how the spam folder works in Gmail, automatic classifiers will redirect files that Drive strongly suspects to be unwanted to the spam folder. You will also be able to manually move Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Sites, and Forms files in and out of the spam folder. After a file has resided within the spam folder for over 30 days, it will be permanently removed from Drive."

Now there are only two obvious missing features: the ability to limit sharing to your Gmail contacts (shouldn't this be the default?) and an option to turn off sharing altogether. Google says the controls will start rolling out this month.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Worldwide Markets Decline as U.S.-China Trade Frictions Intensify
OpenAI Lands Unprecedented $40 Billion Investment
Removing the Political Adversary is Dismantling What's Remaining of Turkey's Economy.
Ex-FIFA President and French Football Icon Acquitted of Corruption Allegations
White House Investigates Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Secret Yemen Strike Chat
Volunteers in Jeddah Ensure No One Goes Hungry During Ramadan Iftar
New Restaurant Opens in Makkah's Iconic Clock Tower for Ramadan Iftar
Saudi Arabia's Project Masam Removes 552 Houthi Mines in Yemen
Saudi Arabia Fines Over 400 Foreign Trucks for Regulatory Violations
Saudi National Campaign for Charitable Work Reports Significant Donations in Ramadan
Historic Al-Hosn Al-Asfal Mosque Restored in Asir as Part of National Heritage Initiative
KSrelief Expands Humanitarian Efforts in Syria, Sudan, and Lebanon
Saudi Arabia Advocates for Global Water Cooperation at Forum
Madinah Governor Tours Islamic Arts Biennale in Jeddah
Saudi Foreign Minister in Cairo to Lead Meeting on Gaza Developments
Recognition of Saudi and Pakistani Entrepreneurs at Riyadh Ceremony
UAE Announces $1.4 Trillion Investment Plan in the United States
Saudi Arabia Innovates in Soil Quality and Water Conservation
Governor of Taif Engages with Rose and Aromatic Plants Cooperative
Saudi Food and Drug Authority Enhances Preparations for Hajj Season
Saudi Arabia Distributes Aid to Yemen and Romania
Restoration of Historic Al-Qalaah Mosque in Riyadh Underlines Heritage Preservation Efforts
Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 25,000 for Immigration Violations in One Week
UAE’s ADQ and Energy Capital Partners Announce $25 Billion Energy Venture in the U.S.
KSrelief Launches Extensive Ramadan Food Aid Initiative
Ramadan Celebrations Revitalize Historic Jeddah
Makkah Authorities Urge Worshippers to Follow Crowd Management Guidelines
Direct Flights Between Dammam and Damascus Reestablished for Syrian Residents
Saudi Main Index Rises to Close at 11,760 Amid Mixed Market Performance
Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch Visits Prophet's Mosque in Madinah
Cultural Development Fund Hosts Third Annual Storytellers Event in Riyadh
Investment Surge in Fintech, Gaming, and Health Care Across MENA Region
Surging Prices for Religious Tourism in Saudi Arabia Amid Ramadan Rush
Middle Eastern Airlines’ Fleet Projected to Surge Above Global Growth Rates
Oil Prices Rise Amid Supply Concerns and Sanctions on Iran
Saudi Arabia Reports Significant Decrease in US Treasury Holdings
Tabuk's Transformative Economic Landscape: A Hub of Growth and Innovation in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia's Strategic Advances in Water Sustainability
Merrill Lynch Appointed as Market Maker for 20 Securities on Saudi Exchange
Gold Prices Set for Third Weekly Gain Amid Geopolitical Tensions and Economic Uncertainty
Saudi Banks Increase Debt Market Activities Amid Sukuk Surge
Saudi Aramco Launches Direct Air Capture Technology to Combat Emissions
Saudi Arabia Enhances Crowd Management at Grand Mosque for Ramadan
Abeer Al Akel Appointed CEO of Royal Commission for AlUla
Ukraine Pursues Partial Ceasefire in Saudi Arabia Talks Amid Ongoing Conflict
Saudi Arabia Arrests Over 25,000 Illegal Residents in Week-long Security Campaign
Royal Order Extends Dr. Eman Al-Mutairi’s Tenure as Deputy Minister of Commerce
Prophet’s Mosque Hosts 4,000 Mu’takifs for Ramadan Itikaf
Yemeni National Arrested for Exploiting Children for Begging in Riyadh
Makkah Region Records Highest Rainfall in Saudi Arabia
×