After recognizing the problem since 2019, Google Drive will finally let you block spam from its document-sharing platform. Previously, if you received a document with view-only, not edit-only access, even clicking “Remove” on the unwanted file or folder would only hide the document. The file could still appear in searches or in quick access if Drive’s algorithm believed it was important.

At the time the spam issue was reported on How-To Geek, Google said in a statement: “For most users, the default sharing options work as intended. Unfortunately, that was not the case for this user, and we sincerely apologize for this experience. In light of this issue, we are evaluating changes to our spam, abuse, and blocking features that will prevent this type of activity from happening in Google Drive. In the meantime, users experiencing similar issues can remove themselves from the folder, and the folder should not reappear in either My Drive or Shared with Me unless they revisit it.”

New feature to block users in Drive could solve spam, Google believes

About the issues with spam and phishing on Drive, Google said now that it’s “important to have the security controls in place to protect yourself from these shared threats. Today, we’re announcing the ability to block users to do just that.” When you block another user in your Drive, they’ll be prevented from sharing documents with you, and any documents they’ve already shared will be permanently removed.

With the feature, you can also remove the blocked person's access to documents you've shared with them in the past on Google Drive. In addition to blocking people who send spam, the option also helps you cut contact with former colleagues or employers you no longer work with.

For now, the option to block spam in Google Drive is not yet available to all users, with Google saying that the feature will be rolled out generally “in the coming months.” According to the Android Police, the function should appear in the “Shared with me” section, and the user will have to right-click to choose “Block”.

It is worth remembering that, since the end of last year, the company is working on encryption solutions for Google Drive, and more recently, with password protected backups.

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