It’s not always that easy to tell what the positive effects of an immensely popular technology are on society. Recently Google debuted a new feature for their calendar app that lets you discover when you were unknowingly close to a virus, a bug, or an unwelcome guest. Here are 5 unexpected facts about Google Calendar which could change how initially negative this app sounds in the near future.
What is Google Calendar?
Google Calendar is a free service from Google that allows users to manage their schedules and reminders. Calendar also keeps track of events, allowing users to see all the information they need at a glance. Google Calendar is great for quickly seeing what’s scheduled for the day and for keeping track of any important appointments.
How does Google Calendar work?
Google Calendar is a free online service that lets users keep track of schedules and appointments. Google Calendar also alerts users when there are new virus alerts.
Reasons why viruses might show up on your Google Calendar
One common way that viruses show up on computer systems is when a user downloads and then opens an infected file from the internet. If you have Calendars synced with your Google Account, then any Calendar events that are associated with those files will automatically be added to your Calendar.
When a virus is detected by your computer’s antivirus software, it will usually add an alert to your Calendar so that you can take appropriate action. By default, Calendar events will display a warning triangle next to the event icon, and the event time and date will be highlighted in green. If you see this type of warning on your Calendar, please take heed and avoid opening the associated file.
Be wary about the other channels that you’re sharing
information – whether it’s from email, social media, or even
traditional sources like newspapers. Viruses are always lurking, waiting to spread\nlike wildfire – and they can do so easily if you’re not careful. Google Calendar is just one of the\nmany channels that can carry viruses, so be sure to take caution before trusting any information\nthat you’re sharing.
Sharing only your calendar with people you trust
Google Calendar is a great tool to manage your appointments and events. However, there are times when you may want to keep your calendar only with certain people, such as your close family members or friends. When you share your calendar with other people, you’re opening yourself up to possible attacks from malware.
Here are three reasons why you should ONLY share your calendar with people you trust:
1. Malware can steal sensitive information from your appointments and events.
2. Malware can block or disable your computer if it’s downloaded onto it.
3. Malware can send fake alerts that look like legitimate Google Calendar alerts, tricking you into thinking that something important has happened. Only share your calendar with people you trust, and make sure to keep an eye out for any suspicious activity on their part. If you’d like to learn more, check out these videos by LifeHacker:
Conclusion
Google Calendar is a great tool for organizing your life, but be aware that it can also be an unwitting vector for viruses. In recent months, we’ve seen a number of virus alerts related to Google Calendar because of malicious emails that pretend to be from Google.com or an account you use with Google Calendar. If you get an email that looks like it’s from Google, don’t click on any links in the email—instead, just delete it. If you’re using Google Calendar to keep track of events in your work or school life, be sure to protect yourself by setting up two-factor authentication and reviewing the privacy settings on your account. Installing antivirus software into your computer is just as important as installing it on your mobile device. Now that computers have more power than ever, bugs and viruses are just easier for malicious hackers to take advantage of. Sophos continues to research new vulnerabilities on a daily basis, so if you’re worried about being infected with malware, we recommend reviewing the complete list of our recommendations for protecting yourself online. If you want much more detail, please read our Welcome Guide to Sophos Anti