Learning outcomes
- Explain how to inspect links and files before opening.
- Complete the guided activity safely.
- Check that you can avoid common email threats.
Security and Privacy
Safe Links and Attachments
Learn to inspect links and files before opening and avoid common email threats in this beginner-friendly Gmail lesson.
Before you begin
Use the correct account. Practise with fictional content and never share passwords, recovery codes or confidential information.
Step-by-step instructions
- Open Gmail and confirm that the profile picture and email address show the intended Google Account.
- Check a fictional message without clicking using fictional or non-sensitive practice information.
- Pause before any send, delete, sharing, security or account change; check recipients, permissions and likely consequences.
- Review the result and confirm that you can avoid common email threats.
- Record one useful habit and safely reverse or remove any temporary practice item.
Ian's practical tip: Email can affect real people immediately. Check the account, recipients, subject, attachments, tone and privacy before you send or share.
Practical activity
Check a fictional message without clicking. Your expected result is to avoid common email threats.