Google Drive security update can impact your files but you can avoid it, here is how

Google is set to bring some updates for Drive users starting September. It is now showing a notification on Google Drive that speaks of a security update that will apply to some users' files in Drive. On Drive, there are two methods by which Google users can share a file. The first one is when users share a Google file with specific Google accounts and another is through the Get link option where anyone with the link can access the file. Now, by bringing the security update, Google aims to reduce how these links -- which are reportedly guessable, can be accessed by anyone by adding a resource key through the shared drive links making it harder to guess

Google notes that users who have already had access to the security updated files can still view those files but those who do not will still have to request access. The changes will start taking place from September 13 and Google is giving users the option to remove the update for files and drives for the content they want to share publicly.

To view the files where Google has applied these Settings, users should go to Google Drive, where they will be able to see a security update banner. Click on See Files. Alternatively, users can also click on My Drive to see their impacted files to see the impacted files in that Drive. To remove the security update from these files, users should hover over the file they want to remove the security update from and click Remove security update. Users can also go to a file and right-click on Share > Get link > Settings > check or uncheck Apply security update. Earlier in the month, Youtube brought a similar update to its shareable or unlisted links, killing all the unlisted links before 2017

In related news, Google has also revamped its Android backup tool by introducing Backup by Google One. The redesigned tool will be available for all Google users, and they will be able to back up photos, videos, and MMS messages, SMS text messages, device settings, call history, and contacts. However, the backup data will be counted towards the 15GB account storage cap that Google recently introduced. Google has also added a Data Restore Tool app to PlayStore that, as the name suggests, allows users to hold on to content from their old devices while setting up their new devices. The Data Restore Tool allows users to transfer apps, photos, contacts through a cable or cloud backup while setting up a device. The Data Restore Tool is expected to allow iPhone users to move their WhatsApp chats to a new Android device.