Is Google Chat safe? Key risks and how to avoid them

It’s a fast and easy way to keep in touch with friends and colleagues, but is Google Chat safe? Well, it does offer solid basics like TLS encryption, 2FA, and spam filters, but its lack of end-to-end encryption leaves you open to snooping from Google and Workspace admins.

Moreover, Google collects data from your chats to enhance its products, which doesn’t bode well for your privacy. Plus, images you share use public URLs, which means anyone with the link can access them. On top of that, scams can pop up just like on any messaging app.

Below, we’ll go over how Google Chat handles privacy and security, what dangers you should watch out for, and which settings you can tweak to stay safer. We’ll also clear up some leftover privacy concerns at the end—like whether Google Chat reveals your phone number, stores your location, or can be monitored.

What is Google Chat and is it safe to use?

Google Chat is a messaging app from Google that lets you send messages, share files, and create group chats. It works well with Gmail and other Google apps, making it easy to stay connected whether you’re on desktop or mobile.

But is Google Chat safe compared to other apps? While the service offers basic protections, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and TLS encryption in transit and at rest, it doesn’t have end-to-end encryption (E2EE). End-to-end encryption is a popular feature among secure messaging services, such as Signal and Telegram.

That means messages are safe from outsiders while being sent and when stored on Google’s data centers, but the company can still access them if needed. As such, it’s best to avoid sharing private photos and other sensitive info.

Otherwise, Google Chat benefits from built-in spam and phishing filters, protecting you against dangerous phishing scams designed to steal your logins or other valuable data. Naturally, you also have the option to block and report scammers, trolls, and other internet pests.

What are the dangers of Google Chat?

Overall, Google Chat is suitable for everyday conversations and work chats, although there are still a few risks to be aware of.

1. Image sharing isn’t as private as you think

Sending a picture in Google Chat might seem harmless, but images are stored using links that can be accessed by anyone who gets hold of them. If someone knows how to guess or generate those links, they could find and download shared content without your knowledge.

Need to send IDs, credit cards, or anything personal (and not fall victim to identity theft or sextortion)? Then consider one of these end-to-end encrypted messaging apps instead. Better yet, avoid sending sensitive data over the internet in the first place.

2. A hacked account opens the door to everything

If someone hijacks your Google login, they get every message you’ve ever sent or received. That doesn’t just include Chat: think Gmail, Google Drive files, Calendar invites—everything tied to your account can be exposed or misused. A hacker can impersonate you, steal info, or spread harmful links to your contacts.

Protect your account with a strong password and two-factor authentication to keep your chats safe. A good password manager can generate and store strong, unique passwords for all your accounts, with the added benefit of not inputting your logins into copycat websites.

3. Scammers love casual conversations

Scammers sometimes use Chat as a follow-up after finding you elsewhere online. You might get messages pretending to be a friend, a job recruiter, or even someone looking to date. From there, it’s easy for them to push phishing links or build trust before pulling a scam.

Google may have security measures in place to stop you from accessing malicious links, but no system is foolproof. Always double-check links before clicking, even if they seem to come from someone you know. Consider installing a capable antivirus to protect against malware infections in case of a misclick.

4. A false sense of privacy can lead to oversharing

Because Chat feels more casual than email, people tend to drop their guard and share passwords, location snaps, work drafts, and other stuff they normally wouldn’t. Remember that Chat history can be stored and viewed by Workspace admins or Google itself, so treat it like any other record.

Speaking of which, admins using Google Workspace for Education can monitor chats for issues such as bullying, self-harm, or inappropriate content. They can flag or review messages, set safety rules, and limit who students can message. However, these protections only work if they are set up properly.

How to use Google Chat safely

Besides using strong passwords, turning on 2FA, avoiding sensitive image sharing, watching out for scams, and having an antivirus and a password manager in place, here are some extra tips to make your Google Chat experience as safe as possible:

• Update Google Chat and your OS: This way, you’ll get all the latest security fixes before hackers get a chance to do some damage.
• Turn off Google Chat history: If you don’t need a record of specific chats, just click or tap the chat name and select Turn off history to make messages disappear after 24 hours. (You’ll need to do this for each separate case.)
• Use an online scam checker: Feel like a link is suspicious? Then pass it through tools like Google Safe Browsing or NordVPN Link Checker to rule out any scams.
• Install a reputable VPN app: They add an extra layer of encryption to keep your chats hidden on unsecured networks, and hide your real IP/location from potential cyberstalkers. The best VPNs also block intrusive ads, trackers, and malicious links.

Additionally, Google Chat offers several built-in settings that allow you to adjust your privacy and control who can reach out to you.

Manage your Google Chat privacy settings

Here’s what you need to do to manage who can message you (thus reducing spam), and adjust how Google uses your Chat data.

On desktop

1. Access Google Chat settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner.
2. Go to Access Restrictions and make sure everything is set to Known senders only.
3. Next, click on Data Privacy > Manage settings.
4. Turn off any Google smart features you don’t want to use to minimize data collection.
5. Click Save to finish up.

On mobile

1. Tap the Menu button on the top left (three horizontal lines), then Settings.
2. Scroll down to Who can message you? and Who can invite you to spaces? and change both to Known senders only.
3. For the next part, you’ll have to use the Gmail app instead. Open it, and tap Menu > Settings as before.
4. Select the account you want to adjust data collection for.
5. Scroll down until you find the Smart features setting and uncheck it.
6. Now tap on Google Workspace smart features and uncheck them as needed.

That’s all it takes to tighten your Google Chat privacy settings. These small tweaks can make a big difference in keeping unwanted messages and data tracking at bay.

Is Google Chat safe for kids?

Unfortunately, Google Chat is not exactly safe for kids. In fact, Google accounts have a minimum age requirement of 13 (or more, depending on the country). That’s because children may be exposed to harmful content or run into scammers and other cybercriminals.

In certain countries (like the US, Australia, and 36+ others), you can set up a limited Google account for your child using Family Link. This will let you manage app permissions, block contacts in Google Chat to prevent unwanted interactions, set screen time limits, and more.

However, Family Link won’t let you monitor your child’s Chats in real time. As such, it’s important to teach them about online safety if you plan on letting them use Google Chat.

Related: Protecting children’s privacy online

Is Google Chat safe for online dating?

Google Chat can be safe for online dating if you stick to basic security practices like those we’ve outlined above. It offers similar protection to other messaging apps but doesn’t have extra features meant for dating safety.

That said, be cautious of individuals on dating apps who request a switch to Google Chat, WhatsApp, or other platforms, as this is a common scam tactic. Many romance scams start this way, and in 2024 alone, victims in the US lost nearly $700 million.

If someone tries to win your trust and then asks for money, pushes you into a cryptocurrency investment scam, or fishes for personal info, block them and move on. No real connection should come with pressure, secrets, or financial demands.

Frequently asked questions

See also: