The marketing consultants have been round again: Google Apps became G Suite - now called Google Workspace!

G Suite just got better - introducing Google Workspace. 

Everything you need to get work done, now in one place.

Tools that you love, thoughtfully connected. An integrated workspace that’s simple to use, Google Workspace lets you spend less time managing your work and more time actually doing it.

Smart suggestions to help you prioritise. Address what’s important and let Google handle the rest with best-in-class AI and search technology that helps you work smarter.

Flexible solutions for every business. Work from anywhere, on any device – even offline – with tools to help you integrate, customise and extend Google Workspace to meet your team’s unique needs.

Ready to begin? See how Google Workspace can help you get more done with business productivity and collaboration tools loved by billions of users.

From Gmail to Docs to Drive, it's a fully integrated way to work. G Suite is offering a 14-day trial. Sign up using my link and ask me for a discount code. 

Check it out: Google Workspace

Want to disable AI features in Google Workspace? Well you can't!

 

If you are a regular reader of this Blog - you will have noticed that I'm not an Artificial Intelligence fanboy. We are all constantly being told it's the best thing since sliced bread: rammed down our throats by the big-tech companies & government alike. Meanwhile I do not like the tech, and have serious concerns about where it is taking us...

For some while, every time I started to type an email in Google Workspace - I'd get a prompt offering to help me to type the email, or to polish the text. This really bugged me - so I looked for a way to turn it off in the Gmail interface = nothing. Under the Google Admin console: there were settings - but none of them worked. I checked on the Workspace forums - lots of folks having the same issues. In the end I opened a call with Google Workspace Support. Long story short - they had to enable an interface - that then allowed me to disable Gemini AI. By default - as "Super Admin" - I'm not allowed to access these controls. The literally don't want us switching this stuff off! Shocking & outrageous!

Find out more about Google Workspace

What is Google Workspace?

Google Workspace is a cloud-based productivity suite that helps teams communicate, collaborate and get things done from anywhere and on any device. It's simple to set up, use and manage, so that your business can focus on what really matters.

These are some highlights:

Business email for your domain: Look professional and communicate as you@yourcompany.com. Gmail’s simple features help you build your brand while getting more done.

Access from any location or device: Check emails, share files, edit documents, hold video meetings and more, whether you're at work, at home or on the move. You can pick up where you left off from a computer, tablet or phone.

Enterprise-level management tools: Robust admin settings give you total command over users, devices, security and more.

Sign up using my link and get a free 14-day trial, and message me to get an exclusive discount when you try Google Workspace for your business.

Google Workspace

Denmark bans Chromebooks and Google Workspace in schools over data transfer risks

 

Denmark is effectively banning Google’s services in schools, after officials in the municipality of Helsingør were last year ordered to carry out a risk assessment around the processing of personal data by Google.

In a verdict published last week, Denmark’s data protection agency, Datatilsynet, revealed that data processing involving students using Google’s cloud-based Workspace software suite — which includes Gmail, Google Docs, Calendar and Google Drive — “does not meet the requirements” of the European Union’s GDPR data privacy regulations.

Specifically, the authority found that the data processor agreement — or Google’s terms and conditions —  seemingly allow for data to be transferred to other countries for the purpose of providing support, even though the data is ordinarily stored in one of Google’s EU data centres.

Google’s Chromebook laptops, and by extension Google Workspace, are used in schools across Denmark. But Datatilsynet focused specifically on Helsingør for the risk assessment after the municipality reported a “breach of personal data security” back in 2020. While this latest ruling technically only applies to schools in Helsingør for now, Datatilsynet notes that many of the conclusions it has reached will “probably apply to other municipalities” that use Google Chromebooks and Workspace. It added that it expects these other municipalities “to take relevant steps” off the back of the decision it reached in Helsingør.

The ban is effective immediately, but Helsingør has until August 3 to delete user data.

www.techcrunch.com

Spring updates to your office? Look no further!

 

Refreshing the office? Craft a workspace fit for all! 
Click here for our current deals

Embarking on an office refresh is not merely a visual upgrade; it’s a rejuvenation of the work environment. The tactile experience of a well-designed workspace stimulates productivity and fosters a positive mindset.

Implementing an office refresh does not need to break the bank. We prioritise great value, curating a quality range of budget-friendly products, without compromising on durability and style.

Whether you’re looking to do a complete office fit-out, or just looking to make small changes, our strategically chosen range of products provides all you need, from storage and versatile desk solutions through to ergonomically designed seating.

www.donline.co.uk

Microsoft's New Windows AI Feature Comes With Warnings About Malware and Data Theft

ITSFOSS.COM - If you ask me, Microsoft has been one of the biggest driving forces behind Linux adoption in recent years. The way they've been handling Windows, with its forced updates, aggressive telemetry, and questionable AI features, has sent more people to Linux than any marketing campaign ever could.

And they are at it again with a new Artificial intelligence feature that could be tricked into installing malware on your system.

Microsoft is rolling out a new experimental feature called "Copilot Actions" to Windows Insiders. They pitch it as an AI agent that handles tasks you describe to it. Organize vacation photos, sort your Downloads folder, extract info from PDFs, that sort of thing.

It is currently available in Windows 11 Insider builds (version 26220.7262) as part of Copilot Labs and is off by default, requiring admin access to set it up.

But here's the catch. Copilot Actions isn't just suggesting what to do. It runs in a separate environment called "Agent Workspace" with its unique user account, clicking through apps and working on your files.

Microsoft says it has "capabilities like its own desktop" and can "interact with apps in parallel to your own session." And that's where the problems start.

In a support document, Microsoft admits that features like Copilot Actions introduce "novel security risks." They warn about cross-prompt injection (XPIA), where malicious content in documents or UI elements can override the AI's instructions.

The result? "Unintended actions like data exfiltration or malware installation."

Yeah, you read that right. Microsoft is shipping a feature that could be tricked into installing malware on your system.

Microsoft's own warning hits hard: "We recommend that you only enable this feature if you understand the security implications."

www.itsfoss.com

Google will delete accounts, including Gmail & Photos, that haven’t logged on in 2 years

In 2020, Google said it would remove content stored in an inactive account (but not the account itself) to preserve storage space. Google is now updating its inactivity policy so that old, unused accounts will be deleted starting later this year.

“If a Google Account has not been used or signed into for at least 2 years,” Google will delete that personal account and its contents. In addition to the email address becoming inaccessible, Gmail messages, Calendar events, Drive, Docs, and other Workspace files, as well as Google Photos backups, will be removed.

At the moment, Google is not planning to delete accounts with YouTube videos. (That would be tricky as some old abandoned clips might have historical relevance.)

Google will start deleting inactive accounts in December 2023 (at the earliest) and take a “phased approach,” starting with “accounts that were created and never used again.” The company says it is “going to roll this out slowly and carefully.”

Before deleting an account, we will send multiple notifications over the months leading up to deletion, to both the account email address and the recovery email (if one has been provided).

www.9to5google.com

Still using Internet Explorer 11? Really? Another reason to move to a modern Web Browser...

 

Last year, Google announced that Google Workspace will officially stop supporting Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) on March 15, 2021. 

To avoid any possible disruptions in service, such as degraded performance or security vulnerabilities, please be sure to switch to a different browser before that date.

Donline says: use this one!

www.googleblog.com