Gmail Is Adding a Blue Checkmark To Better Verify Senders

Google is giving verified senders a blue check mark to more clearly "help users identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators." 9to5Google reports: The existing system is based on the Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) standard, where brand logos appear in the "avatar slot" next to the sender's name and address. For example, instead of a generic "B" against a plain background, Bank of America can show its official flag logo. It's based on strong authentication with DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) and logo verification "with a VMC, issued by a Certification Authority such as Entrust or DigiCert." Google is now making the feature much more explicit by adding a "checkmark icon for senders that have adopted BIMI" to more clearly "help users identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators." The company has shared what this will look like on desktop web. The timing of this launch is somewhat amusing, given the rest of the tech landscape. The icon is a blue seal with a white checkmark in the middle, with users able to hover over it on the web. For example, Google's will say: "This sender of this email has verified that they own google.com and the logo in the profile image. Learn more." The feature is rolling out today and will be available over the coming days and weeks. It'll be available to all Google Workspace customers, legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers, and users with personal Google Accounts.

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