Google Mail Security Features
As you get ready for the new school year and begin using your school email more, you may notice some new-to-you message appearing. These are designed to help you ensure that you are sending information to the correct emails - preventing you from sending sensitive information to the wrong person OR the wrong email address!
The first is a "did you mean...?" warning. Often you may have multiple emails for the same person -
This seems to pop up when you are sending to multiple people, and one of the people you are sending to has multiple emails at different domain extensions - and the one you are not using matches the other person/people you are sending to. Above, I selected Dan's .com email but John's .org email. Since I have another email for Dan that is .org, it prompted the Did you mean question.
The second is a warning when you are sending to someone outside your domain that is not in your contacts -
Again, a great way to prevent sending sensitive information to the wrong place/person.
As always, a couple Public Service Announcement reminders for you:
The first is a "did you mean...?" warning. Often you may have multiple emails for the same person -
This seems to pop up when you are sending to multiple people, and one of the people you are sending to has multiple emails at different domain extensions - and the one you are not using matches the other person/people you are sending to. Above, I selected Dan's .com email but John's .org email. Since I have another email for Dan that is .org, it prompted the Did you mean question.
The second is a warning when you are sending to someone outside your domain that is not in your contacts -
Again, a great way to prevent sending sensitive information to the wrong place/person.
As always, a couple Public Service Announcement reminders for you:
- NEVER send student information of any kind to emails outside your domain. This is very insecure, and a clear violation of FERPA.
- Best practice is to not put any student information (i.e. name) in the subject line of your email...ever; you never know when a recipient might be projecting their computer in their classroom to students, not good if they have notifications on that show new email subject lines.