Google adds three new security features to Gmail

Three new security features have been added to Gmail which includes security sandbox, advanced phishing and malware protection and Gmail confidential mode. Security sandbox detects the presence of previously unknown malware in attachments by virtually “executing” them in a private, secure sandbox environment. Advanced phishing and malware protection provides new controls to place emails into a quarantine, protect against anomalous attachment types and protect your Google Groups from inbound spoofing emails. Gmail confidential mode provides built-in information rights management controls in your emails by allowing senders to create expiration dates and revoke previously sent messages.

In security sandbox, email attachments are detonated within a sandbox in the exact same way as they would if an actual user had clicked on it. This is done in a matter of minutes prior to the delivery of the email and provides users with an extra layer of security. Security sandbox has been developed with a focus to provide coverage against malware propagated through malicious embedded scripts and zero-day threats. Security sandbox provides an additional level of anti-malware protection over and above conventional detection. By virtually opening an attachment in a secure environment that can analyse the effects on the target operating system, it’s better able to detect ransomware, sophisticated malware propagated through embedded scripts (like files containing macros or .js files), and zero-day threats.

With advanced phishing and malware protection, admins will have new controls to:

• Place emails into a quarantine – Route emails that match phishing and malware controls to a new or existing quarantine. This will be available for new and existing controls. 
• Protect against anomalous attachment types in emails – Identify emails with unusual attachment types and choose to automatically display a warning banner, send them to spam, or quarantine the messages. 
• Protect your Google Groups from inbound emails spoofing your domain – Identify unauthenticated emails potentially spoofing your domain and choose to automatically display a warning banner, send them to spam, or quarantine the messages. 

Gmail confidential mode provides built-in information rights management controls in your emails by allowing senders to create expiration dates and revoke previously sent messages. Because a sender can require additional authentication via text message to view an email, it’s also possible to protect data even if a recipient’s email account has been hijacked while the message is active. Additionally, with confidential mode, recipients don’t have the option to forward, copy, print, or download their content or attachments.