Google Blue Check Mark. What is and Why Did Google Launch It?

Sunday, October 6, 2024

The blue check mark in Gmail is a verification badge that Google introduced to help users identify legitimate senders. This feature is primarily aimed at businesses and organizations rather than individuals. Here’s a quick breakdown:

What is the Blue Check Mark?

Verification Badge: The blue check mark indicates that Google has verified the sender’s identity. This helps users distinguish between legitimate emails and potential phishing or spoofing attempts.

Brand Trust: It enhances trust by confirming that the email is genuinely from the organization it claims to be from.

Why Did Google Launch It?

Security: To combat phishing and email spoofing, which are common tactics used by cybercriminals to deceive recipients into providing sensitive information.

Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI): Organizations need to set up BIMI, which involves implementing security measures like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for their domains. This ensures that their emails are authenticated and verified by Google.

This initiative is part of Google’s broader efforts to enhance email security and user trust.

Can I get a blue check mark for my personal email address?.
Currently, the blue check mark verification in Gmail is designed specifically for businesses and organizations, not for personal email addresses. This feature aims to help users identify legitimate emails from verified brands and organizations, enhancing security and trust.

Have you noticed any blue check marks in your inbox yet?.

How can I get a blue check mark for my organization?

To get a blue check mark for your organization in Gmail, you’ll need to follow these steps:

1. Implement Email Authentication

Ensure your domain is set up with the following email authentication protocols:

SPF (Sender Policy Framework): This helps prevent spammers from sending messages on behalf of your domain.
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail): This adds a digital signature to your emails, verifying that they haven’t been altered.
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance): This policy helps you specify how your emails should be handled if they fail SPF or DKIM checks.

2. Set Up BIMI (Brand Indicators for Message Identification)

Create a Verified Mark Certificate (VMC): This certificate is issued by a trusted certificate authority and verifies your brand logo.

Publish BIMI Record: Add a BIMI record to your domain’s DNS. This record points to your brand logo and VMC.

3. Apply for Verification

Submit Your Information: Once your BIMI setup is complete, you can apply for verification through Google. This process involves submitting your domain and VMC for review.

4. Wait for Approval

Verification Process: Google will review your application and, if everything is in order, grant your domain the blue check mark.

Resources
Google’s BIMI Guidelines: Google BIMI
Certificate Authorities for VMC: Look for trusted providers like DigiCert or Entrust.

By following these steps, you can enhance your organization’s email security and build trust with your recipients. If you need more detailed guidance on any of these steps, feel free to ask!

October News: Google is currently testing verified checkmarks in its search results to help users identify legitimate businesses and avoid fraudulent websites. This feature is similar to the blue check marks used in Gmail for email verification but is now being applied to search results.

Key Points:

Purpose: The checkmarks aim to distinguish real businesses from fake ones, enhancing user trust and security.
Implementation: When you hover over the checkmark, a message explains that Google’s signals suggest the business is legitimate, although it doesn’t guarantee the reliability of the business or its products.
Testing Phase: This feature is still in the experimental stage and is currently visible to a limited number of users.