Google restricting internet access to some employees for security

According to CNBC reports, Google launched a new pilot program on Wednesday, and some employees will be restricted from using desktop computers that are not connected to the Internet.

The company initially selected more than 2,500 employees to participate, but after receiving feedback, the company revised the pilot to allow employees to opt out and open it up to volunteers.The company will disable Internet access on selected desktops, but internal web-based tools and Google– Owned websites such as Google Drive and Gmail. Some employees who need the internet to do their jobs will get an exception, the company said in its materials.

Additionally, some employees will not have root access, meaning they won’t be able to run administrative commands or do things like install software.

According to internal materials, Google is running the program to reduce the risk of cyber attacks. “Google employees are regularly targeted,” according to an internal description seen by CNBC. The description adds that if a Google employee’s device is compromised, an attacker could gain access to user data and infrastructure code, which could cause a major incident and break user trust.

The description explains that closing off most internet access ensures that attackers cannot easily run arbitrary code remotely or obtain data.

The plan comes as companies face increasingly sophisticated cyberattacks.Microsoft said last week that Chinese intelligence services had hacked into the corporate email accounts of more than two dozen government agencies in the United States and Western Europe, including the State Department, causing a “significant” breach. google has Pursue The U.S. government has signed contracts since the creation of the public sector unit last year.

Meanwhile, Google is preparing to roll out various artificial intelligence tools across the company in an attempt to improve its security. The company has also stepped up efforts to curb leaks in recent months.

“Ensuring the security of our products and our users is one of our top priorities,” a Google spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “We routinely explore ways to harden our internal systems against malicious attacks.”