Google Works to Eliminate Spam Invites for More Than 1 Billion Users

Google Works to Eliminate Spam Invites for More Than 1 Billion Users

Google is working to keep unwanted and malicious content from its users.

  • By Sherelle Black
  • Sep 11, 2019

A simple Google Calendar request from a person to have lunch with you can lead to a host of security issues.

According to Forbes, the Google Calendar app puts 1.5 billion Gmail users at risk as hackers can include a malicious link attached to a calendar invite.

If an user clicks on the link, it could prompt them to fake site that will ask them for their bank account or credit card details.

For example, when clicking on the invitation, a description of the event would note that an important piece of information, such as the user’s PIN number or bank account number, was missing. Once the user inputs the number it would then be sent back to the scammer.

Google says they are aware of the problem and are working to resolve it.

A Google employee wrote this on a post on the Calendar help page, “ "We're aware of the spam occurring in Calendar and are working diligently to resolve this issue. We'll post updates to this thread as they become available. Learn how to report and remove spam. Thank you for your patience."

A Google Cloud spokesperson said the Calendar support post was not confirmation of a new security vulnerability in Gmail or Calendar.

"Spam calendar invitations can include both unwanted and malicious content that deceive users, similar to spam email. We are not aware of any security bugs due to the software itself. As such, it would be misleading to characterizethis as a technical security vulnerability," the spokesperson said.

Forbes reported users can take steps to prevent this from happening by changing their calendar settings from “automatically add invitations” to “no, only show invitations to which I have responded.”

Updated Sept. 11: This article has been updated to include a statement from Google.

About the Author

Sherelle Black is a Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

  • Unlocking Trustworthy AI: Building Transparency in Security Governance

    In situations where AI supports important security tasks like leading investigations and detecting threats and anomalies, transparency is essential. When an incident occurs, investigators must trace the logic behind each automated response to confirm its validity or spot errors. Demanding interpretable AI turns opaque “black boxes” into accountable partners that enhance, rather than compromise, organizational defense. Read Now

  • Seeking Innovative Solutions

    Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance. You may recognize these terms as the “5 Phases” of a grieving process, but they could easily describe the phases one goes through before adopting any new or emerging innovation or technology, especially in a highly risk-averse industry like security. However, the desire for convenience in all aspects of modern life is finally beginning to turn the tide from old school hardware as the go-to towards more user-friendly, yet still secure, door solutions. Read Now

  • Where AI Meets Human Judgment

    Artificial intelligence is everywhere these days. It is driving business growth, shaping consumer experiences, and showing up in places most of us never imagined just a few years ago. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.