Google is rolling out new security features to help organizations halt email as the attack vector for ransomware.
While mass ransomware attacks have become less frequent, targeted attacks are on the rise and causing major pains for organizations, with two Florida city councils forking out $600,000 and $500,000 in ransom payments this week after sustained system outages due to ransomware.
Organizations can choose to pay huge ransoms or deal with the consequences of the malware, which cost Norwegian metal giant Norsk Hydro at least $40m within one week of an attack that crippled its production operations in North America.
Google’s new security sandbox aims to deal with these threats if they come through the inbox, addressing malicious embedded scripts in email attachments.
The email attachments will open as if the user had actually clicked on the attachment, allowing Google to check a script’s behavior and detect previously unknown threats. The company announced the feature in beta this April and is now releasing it generally for G Suite users.
The security feature is similar to the Microsoft Office 365 features available today to enterprise customers through Advanced Threat Protection, which offers a URL detonation chamber and additional protections against phishing.
By Liam Tung
June 26, 2019