Anonymous people in a file on Google Drive

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Who is Anonymous [inset animal] and why is it looking at my Google Doc?

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It's an indication that you have set your Google Sheet to be viewable online either publicly or "anyone with the link".

If you set it to "anyone with the link" your spreadsheet can only be accessed by people who have the link you sent them.  It's as secure as a combination lock.  People who have the combination (link) can get access.  If they give out the combination (link), then others can get to it too.

If you want to see the names of the people viewing or collaborating on your sheet you will need to share it exclusively with their Google account address.

If you see someone you don’t know

Someone you don’t know might be looking at your file because:

  • The file is shared with a mailing list.
  • The file is shared with someone who doesn’t have a Google Account or isn’t signed in.
  • Someone who can edit your file or has the link shared it with other people.
  • Someone changed their Google Account name. You can see their email address when you click share and then Advanced your file.