Question Unsolicited file sent to my Google Drive on my Android tablet

[dj54321]

I've got a 3 year old Lenovo m8 tablet with Android 10 and Google Chrome. My app usage is very basic (preloaded Google apps, Skype, banks, VPN.)

Yesterday I received notification in the form of a triangle inside a triangle on the top left of my screen. The swipe down message says:
___________
∆ Drive • my Gmail address
DJ Jobs
Derek Perry shared a file with you
------------------


The triangle above is actually a triangle inside a triangle.

When I click on the swipe down message, it takes me to my Drive screen and shows the below document:

________________
DJ JOBS
Sheet1
A B C
1
Aug 3,2023 Abbey not paid
2
Aug 11,2023 Chapel not paid
3
Aug 20, 2023 Chapel not paid
4
Sept 30, 2023 Seattle not paid
5
Oct 30, 2023 Ft. Lauderdale not paid
6
Dec 23, 2023 Boston not paid
--------------------

I clicked on the Drive document drop down menu and I clicked on "block johnDoe@gmail.com". I have no idea who this email address belongs to.

I also clicked on "remove" on the drop down menu, but the Drive document is still there.

Please advise. Thank you.

 

[methodman89]

Is the document still there, or is it just on the list as having been opened recently, and now acts like a broken link?
Have you changed your email /drive settings so this doesn't happen again?

 

[B. Diddy]

It could very well be that the sender is legit and accidentally shared the file with you due to a typo. You could consider sending an email back to him and letting him know -- but just watch out for any kind of phishing attempt. Otherwise, you could just treat it like spam: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/13305033?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

It could very well be that the sender is legit and accidentally shared the file with you due to a typo. You could consider sending an email back to him and letting him know -- but just watch out for any kind of phishing attempt. Otherwise, you could just treat it like spam: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/13305033?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

On that note, do you want to be a dude and edit out that guy's email address.

To the OP my advice would be to ignore it. if it was sent in error, ignore it. if it's spam,, ignore it. if it's phishing, ignore it.

 

[dj54321]

Is the document still there, or is it just on the list as having been opened recently, and now acts like a broken link?
Have you changed your email /drive settings so this doesn't happen again?

It's still there.

How would I change my email /drive settings so this doesn't happen again?

 

[methodman89]

I think it's this setting. From Gmail /Settings /General Settings.
I'm on an older Android, it could be somewhere else.
I think there's also another setting synching gdrive.
Good luck

 

[dj54321]

Ok, I'll ignore it. Just wanted to be sure I don't need to do some type of virus, etc cleaning procedure on my tablet.

On that note, do you want to be a dude and edit out that guy's email address.

To the OP my advice would be to ignore it. if it was sent in error, ignore it. if it's spam,, ignore it. if it's phishing, ignore it.

 

[dj54321]

It could very well be that the sender is legit and accidentally shared the file with you due to a typo. You could consider sending an email back to him and letting him know -- but just watch out for any kind of phishing attempt. Otherwise, you could just treat it like spam: https://support.google.com/drive/answer/13305033?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

Ok, I just sent "Derek" an email inquiring if it was an accident. I'll let you know if Derek replies.

My main concern is how could someone send something directly to my Drive. That seems very invasive to me, but I'm obviously not a computer tech type person.

 

[dj54321]

Ok

On that note, do you want to be a dude and edit out that guy's email address.

To the OP my advice would be to ignore it. if it was sent in error, ignore it. if it's spam,, ignore it. if it's phishing, ignore it.

Ok, as I replied to B Diddy: My main concern is how could someone send something directly to my Drive. That seems very invasive to me, but I'm obviously not a computer tech type person.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Ok

Ok, as I replied to B Diddy: My main concern is how could someone send something directly to my Drive. That seems very invasive to me, but I'm obviously not a computer tech type person.

Either totally by accident or by obtaining your email address from a list and sending it in order to try and scam you. Either way, my advice is to ignore it.



Lol

 

[dj54321]

I think it's this setting. From Gmail /Settings /General Settings.

I think it's this setting. From Gmail /Settings /General Settings.
I'm on an older Android, it could be somewhere else.
I think there's also another setting synching gdrive.
Good luck

As you suggested, I went to Gmail /Settings /General Settings, but I'm not sure what you're suggesting I do next so that people can't send something directly to my Drive

I'm on an older Android, it could be somewhere else.
I think there's also another setting synching gdrive.
Good luck

 

[dj54321]

Either totally by accident or by obtaining your email address from a list and sending it in order to try and scam you. Either way, my advice is to ignore it.



Lol

So anyone with my email address can send something directly to my Drive?

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

So anyone with my email address can send something directly to my Drive?

Yes and no. The file isn't actually in your drive, it's just accessible from there. When somebody shares a file with you the file stays on their drive.

But yes, anyone with a Gmail account can share a drive file with you

 

[dj54321]

Yes and no. The file isn't actually in your drive, it's just accessible from there. When somebody shares a file with you the file stays on their drive.

But yes, anyone with a Gmail account can share a drive file with you

Good info, thank you.

But I'd prefer if Google/Gmail asked me first if I want to accept or decline the file someone wants to share with me.

 

[dj54321]

To: Methodman89...

Sorry, I'm still not seeing where I could change a setting so that
Google/Gmail would ask me first if I want to accept or decline a file someone wants to share with me....Or something like that.

 

[mustang7757]

I've got a 3 year old Lenovo m8 tablet with Android 10 and Google Chrome. My app usage is very basic (preloaded Google apps, Skype, banks, VPN.)

Yesterday I received notification in the form of a triangle inside a triangle on the top left of my screen. The swipe down message says:
___________
∆ Drive • my Gmail address
DJ Jobs
Derek Perry shared a file with you
------------------


The triangle above is actually a triangle inside a triangle.

When I click on the swipe down message, it takes me to my Drive screen and shows the below document:

________________
DJ JOBS
Sheet1
A B C
1
Aug 3,2023 Abbey not paid
2
Aug 11,2023 Chapel not paid
3
Aug 20, 2023 Chapel not paid
4
Sept 30, 2023 Seattle not paid
5
Oct 30, 2023 Ft. Lauderdale not paid
6
Dec 23, 2023 Boston not paid
--------------------

I clicked on the Drive document drop down menu and I clicked on "block derekXXX@gmail.com". I have no idea who this email address belongs to.

I also clicked on "remove" on the drop down menu, but the Drive document is still there.

Please advise. Thank you.

The problem with using a device with older Android version and not getting security updates anymore is they don't get patched from latest threats out there and scammers try to thrive on Google drive over the years. Just have to be careful out there .

 

[B. Diddy]

Ok

Ok, as I replied to B Diddy: My main concern is how could someone send something directly to my Drive. That seems very invasive to me, but I'm obviously not a computer tech type person.

This kind of thing can also happen with Google Calendar, if Event Settings are set to add invitations from anyone: https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/13159188?sjid=2995091875783294333-NA

For Google Drive, the files will only show up in your Share list if you accept them. I don't think they actually take up space in your Drive, since they're from someone else. True, anyone can offer to share a file with you on Drive, but you won't see it unless you accept it.

You can block the address from sharing to your Google Drive this way: https://techwiser.com/stop-getting-spam-google-drive/

 

[B. Diddy]

On that note, do you want to be a dude and edit out that guy's email address.

Looks like someone beat me to it!

 

[dj54321]

This kind of thing can also happen with Google Calendar, if Event Settings are set to add invitations from anyone: https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/13159188?sjid=2995091875783294333-NA

For Google Drive, the files will only show up in your Share list if you accept them. I don't think they actually take up space in your Drive, since they're from someone else. True, anyone can offer to share a file with you on Drive, but you won't see it unless you accept it.

You can block the address from sharing to your Google Drive this way: https://techwiser.com/stop-getting-spam-google-drive/

B Diddy,

1) I looked at my event settings. It was already set to accept invitations only from people I know.

2) I never accepted the sharing of the file. I would have thought that I'd have an opportunity to Deny the receipt of a shared file.

3) I went to my Drive settings, etc, and clicked on Manage Access, I believe. It showed 3 names +/or email addresses, one of which was mine. I clicked on something like Deny Access regarding my email address.

Then, for the first time, the triangle within a triangle on the top left of my screen disappeared, as did the shared file in my Drive.

The above disappearances weren't my immediate intentions, but there's no going back since I'm no longer allowed access. The disappearances probably could only be a good thing, I would think.

 

[dj54321]

Thank you all for your helpful replies to my question.

(Regarding #8 above, Derek didn't reply to my 7/29 email asking if he sent the file to my Drive by mistake.)