If you've noticed that your Filemail transfer was downloaded almost instantly after being completed — especially when no recipient has had time to access it — you might wonder if someone unauthorized has gained access. Fortunately, there's a common sense explanation.
When you share a Filemail link through certain email or collaboration platforms, the file may appear to be downloaded right away. This isn’t a security breach or unauthorized access — it’s actually the result of automated security processes used by those platforms (for example Google or Microsoft).
What’s happening behind the scenes
Modern email services and communication tools often include built-in systems that automatically check shared links for safety and content previews. Here's what typically happens:
Link scanning for security: To protect users from malicious content, some platforms automatically “follow” any link shared in an email or message. As part of this process, they may access the linked file to check for threats such as viruses, phishing attempts, or malware.
Preview generation: Some platforms also retrieve file information (like file names, sizes, or thumbnails) so they can generate a rich preview within the message. This can require downloading part—or in some cases, all—of the file.
What this means for you
Because these checks happen automatically, the download will be logged by Filemail, even though no human has actually viewed the file. The activity may show up under an unfamiliar IP address, which can be mistaken for unauthorized access.
Rest assured, this is standard behavior for many modern platforms and does not indicate a security issue. Your file is still protected, and access is limited to those who have the unique transfer link.
If you have questions or need help verifying specific access logs, feel free to reach out to our support team. We're here to help.