# Scan incoming Gmail attachments for threats with VirusTotal: n8n workflow

> Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI.

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/scan-incoming-gmail-attachments-for-threats-with-virustotal (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Documents and files](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Documents+and+files#library)

# Scan incoming Gmail attachments for threats with VirusTotal

Started by an arriving email, and works across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Slack. It hands the judgement calls to OpenAI. 13 steps, 1 branch, 1 loop or waits: a working afternoon to understand properly.

Medium Calls a model: OpenAI

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fscan-incoming-gmail-attachments-for-threats-with-virustotal)

**13 steps** Medium: a working afternoon

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**1** Loop or waits

**4** Services it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 1 Logic 6 Service 5

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Poll Gmail for New Attachments** Gmail trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Set Configuration** Set *Logic*
- 3 **Extract Attachments from Email** Code *Logic*
- 4 **Compute SHA256 Hash of Attachment** Code *Logic*
- 5 **Wait 15s for VirusTotal Rate Limit** Wait *Logic*
- 6 **Look Up Hash in VirusTotal** Http Request *Service*
- 7 **Classify Phishing Risk with OpenAI** Open Ai *Model*
- 8 **Calculate Combined Risk Level** Code *Logic*
- 9 **Route by Threat Level** Switch *Logic*
- 10 **Apply Quarantine Label on Gmail** Gmail *Service*
- 11 **Log to Review Queue on Google Sheets** Google Sheets *Service*
- 12 **Save Attachment to Safe Drive Folder** Google Drive *Service*
- 13 **Send Security Alert to Slack** Slack *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An arriving email
- **Steps:** 13, with 1 branch, 1 loop or waits
- **Size:** Medium: a working afternoon
- **Connects to:** Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets, Slack
- **Model:** OpenAI

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, plus your own Gmail, Google Drive, Google Sheets and Slack accounts, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an arriving email.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Plan an afternoon. 13 steps is enough that you should read each one before running it.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 13 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fscan-incoming-gmail-attachments-for-threats-with-virustotal)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[Gmail](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Gmail#library)[Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Drive#library)[Google Sheets](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Google+Sheets#library)[Slack](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=Slack#library)

## Workflows like it

Also documents and files, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

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- [**Build a PDF Q&A system with LlamaIndex and OpenAI** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Pinecone](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-pdf-q-and-a-system-with-llamaindex-and-openai)
- [**Build a document QA system with RAG and Milvus** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Drive](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/build-a-document-qa-system-with-rag-and-milvus)
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- [**Document-based AI chatbot with RAG and OpenAI** 13 steps · calls a model · Google Drive, Supabase vectors](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/document-based-ai-chatbot-with-rag-and-openai)