Google this week announced a security update for Google Drive that is meant to make sharing links more secure for files stored with the service.
With this update, the search advertising giant is adding a resource key to sharing links, which will impact access to the files for those users who haven’t yet viewed the files.
“Once the update has been applied to a file, users who haven’t viewed the file before will have to use a URL containing the resource key to gain access, and those who have viewed the file before or have direct access will not need the resource key to access the file,” Google said in a note accompanying the update.
Google Workspace admins have until July 23 to decide whether or how to apply the security update within their organization. In the Alert Center, they can view how many files, folders, shared drives, and users are impacted.
Starting July 26, end users who own or manage files that will be affected will receive an email notification and will have until September 13 to decide how the update is applied, provided that their admin has approved the update.
Also starting July 26, Google will notify users who are not part of a Google Workspace domain to inform them of impacted files. They will have until September 13 to decide how the update is applied.
The update is applicable to all Google Workspace, G Suite Basic, and Business customers, as well as to users who have personal Google accounts.
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