Google Workspace low security app cutoff is nearly here

Google Workspace
(Image credit: Google)

Applications determined by Google to be not secure enough will have Workspace access disabled as of September 30.

Google’s previously announced cutoff for “less secure apps” (LSA) aims to lower the number of third-party applications that do not use secure authorization from Workspace accounts.

Only third-party applications that use OAuth will be trusted to remain connected to Workspace.

Admins beware

OAuth is an authorization protocol that allows you to use third-party applications without sharing your credentials with them, by providing an authorization token to allow interaction.

Google’s intention behind the cutoff of LSAs is to reduce the number of third-party apps that have access to your username and password to prevent attackers that compromise your credentials from having easy access to your account and networks.

As a result, CalDAV, CardDAV, IMAP, POP and Google Sync will all require OAuth to use, rather than just a password. Those using Thunderbird, the mail app for iOS or MacOS, or Outlook for Mac will simply need to re-add your account and sign in using Google with OAuth.

“Admins will need to push a Google Account using their MDM provider, which will re-add their Google accounts to iOS devices using OAuth,” Google said in the announcement.

For those using Outlook 2016 or earlier, it’s time to upgrade to Microsoft 365, as it will be impossible to log in to older versions of Outlook without OAuth. Similarly, any third-party application that does not use OAuth will no longer work, so you may need to consider an alternative app.

More from TechRadar Pro

Benedict Collins
Staff Writer (Security)

Benedict has been writing about security issues for over 7 years, first focusing on geopolitics and international relations while at the University of Buckingham. During this time he studied BA Politics with Journalism, for which he received a second-class honours (upper division), then continuing his studies at a postgraduate level, achieving a distinction in MA Security, Intelligence and Diplomacy. Upon joining TechRadar Pro as a Staff Writer, Benedict transitioned his focus towards cybersecurity, exploring state-sponsored threat actors, malware, social engineering, and national security. Benedict is also an expert on B2B security products, including firewalls, antivirus, endpoint security, and password management.

Read more
Shadowed hands on a digital background reaching for a login prompt.
A flaw in Google OAuth system is exposing millions of users via abandoned accounts
A phone sitting on a laptop keyboard with the Microsoft Outlook logo on the screen.
Microsoft is changing the way logins work: here’s what that means for you
Isometric demonstrating multi-factor authentication using a mobile device.
Google is ditching SMS - and will now use QR codes for Gmail account authentication
Windows 10 button on a keyboard
Microsoft’s Remote Desktop app becomes the Windows App
Data Breach
Thousands of widely-used public workspaces are leaking data
A Microsoft Surface Laptop being shown at Microsoft's Copilot Plus PC Showcase
Microsoft is officially cutting support for Office apps on Windows 10, so update now
Latest in Pro
A person in a wheelchair working at a computer.
Why betting on Mac security could put your organization at risk
Finger Presses Orange Button Domain Name Registration on Black Keyboard Background. Closeup View
I visited the world’s first registered .com domain – and you won’t believe what it’s offering today
Racks of servers inside a data center.
Modernizing data centers: an efficient path forward
Dr. Peter Zhou, President of Huawei Data Storage Product Line
Why AI commonization is so important for business intelligent transformation and what Huawei’s data storage has to offer
Wix automation
The world's leading website builder aims to save businesses time with new tool
Data Breach
Thousands of healthcare records exposed online, including private patient information
Latest in News
Google Pixel 8a in aloe green showing
Google Pixel 9a benchmark link teases the performance of the upcoming mid-ranger
Quordle on a smartphone held in a hand
Quordle hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #1148)
NYT Strands homescreen on a mobile phone screen, on a light blue background
NYT Strands hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #379)
NYT Connections homescreen on a phone, on a purple background
NYT Connections hints and answers for Monday, March 17 (game #645)
Apple iPhone 16 Pro HANDS ON
Leaked iPhone 17 dummy units may have given us our best look yet at all four models
A super close up image of the Google Gemini app in the Play Store
It's official: Google Assistant will be retired for phones this year, with Gemini taking over