Gmail offers the possibility to verify email accounts with a blue badge, similar to Twitter. The aim is to help users identify authentic email accounts and avoid the risk of phishing. The blue verification badge will appear next to the account name in emails sent from authentic, verified accounts.
Gmail account verification is only available for Google Workspace and G-Suite users, not for individuals.
This blue verification badge on selected accounts comes at no additional cost, providing a very useful tool to validate the authenticity of messages and prevent identity spoofing attacks.
Verification is made possible thanks to the BIMI standard, which allows a brand logo to be added to authenticated messages from verified senders. To have this functionality, companies must enable DMARC protection and verify their image, which will be displayed as an avatar next to the username.
The BIMI program began its first tests in 2020 and a year later was opened to all Google Workspace accounts, the suite of productivity tools previously known as G-Suite.
This verification aims to prevent users from falling victim to spoofing attacks. Users will be able to see the verification checkmark icon for senders who have adopted BIMI, allowing them to identify messages from legitimate senders versus impersonators.
How to get the blue badge in Gmail
Gmail verification is available for all Google Workspace and G-Suite accounts as of today, but users with personal accounts will not be able to access the blue badge, only view it in their inbox.
To generate this brand logo that appears in emails under the BIMI standard, follow these steps:
-Have the login details for the domain host of the email account
-Register the brand logo (it is recommended that it be an image with registered intellectual property)
-Obtain the Verified Mark Certificate (VMC) from an intellectual property registration authority.
-Add a DNS text record in the domain provider’s management console.
-Set up DMARC protection to authenticate messages.
-Create the logo in SVG format.
-Upload it to a web server.
-Check that BIMI is correctly configured.
