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CommsLink Chrome Extension

Updated

CommsLink v2 is a Chrome extension that tells you when email is waiting in your CMMC Space inbox. It shows your unread count on the Chrome toolbar and can show a desktop alert when new email arrives. Clicking the icon opens CMMC Space.

CommsLink sees only how many unread emails are in your inbox. It never sees who sent them, what they're about, or what they say, and alerts contain no message details.

Important: install CommsLink in your everyday Chrome profile or Microsoft Edge browser.

You'll use two browsers during setup:

Browser What it's for
Your everyday Chrome profile (on your computer) or Microsoft Edge browser Where you install CommsLink and where the unread count and alerts appear
The Chrome browser inside CMMC Space Where you approve the sign-in, once, during setup

If you're not sure which is which: your everyday Chrome is the one you open from your computer's taskbar, dock, or Start menu. The CMMC Space browser is the one you reach by signing in to the CMMC Space user portal.

If your organization requires you to use a business Workspace, your organization may require their Google Workspace administrator to approve CommsLink v2 first. If you see a message that access is blocked by your administrator, see Troubleshooting below.

  1. Open your non-CMMC Space Chrome Browser or Microsoft Edge on your computer.
    • If you use more than one Chrome profile, click your profile picture at the top right of Chrome and switch to the profile you use every day.
  2. Go to the CommsLink v2 page on the Chrome Web Store: CommsLink v2 on the Chrome Web Store
  3. Click Add to Chrome, then click Add extension in the pop-up.
  4. Pin the icon so you can see your unread count: click the puzzle-piece icon at the top right of Chrome, find CommsLink v2, and click the pin next to it.
  5. The CommsLink Settings page opens in a new tab. Leave this tab open until setup is finished. If it doesn't open, right-click the CommsLink icon and choose Options.

Part 2: Connect your CMMC Space account

  1. Sign in to CMMC Space through the CMMC Space user portal, and open the Chrome browser inside your session. Leave it open.
  2. Go back to your everyday Chrome and, on the CommsLink Settings tab, click Copy sign-in link.
    • A pairing code appears on the page, for example K7Q-4MX. You'll need it in step 9.
    • Don't share this code or the link with anyone.
  3. Switch to the Chrome browser inside CMMC Space, click the address bar, paste the link (Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on Mac), and press Enter.
  4. On the Confirm your sign-in page, type the pairing code shown in your everyday Chrome and click Continue to Google.
    • The dash is optional, and uppercase or lowercase both work.
  5. Choose your CMMC Space Google account. Google shows what CommsLink is asking for: permission to see your email label counts. Make sure that box is checked, then click Continue or Allow.
  6. When the page says Connected, close that tab in the CMMC Space browser.
  7. Go back to your everyday Chrome. Within a few seconds the Settings tab changes to Connected to your email address, and the CommsLink icon shows your unread count.

The sign-in link and pairing code expire after 10 minutes and work only once. If you run out of time, click Cancel on the Settings tab and start again at step 7.

Part 3: Turn on desktop alerts (optional)

  1. On the CommsLink Settings tab, check Show a desktop alert when new email arrives.
  2. Make sure your computer allows Chrome notifications:
    • Windows: Settings → System → Notifications → make sure Google Chrome is turned on.
    • Mac: System Settings → Notifications → Google Chrome → turn on Allow notifications.
  3. You can now close the Settings tab. CommsLink keeps working in the background.

CommsLink checks your inbox once an hour. Clicking the icon checks right away and opens CMMC Space in a new tab.

What you see on the icon What it means
An orange number That many unread emails are waiting in your CMMC Space inbox
No number No unread email
Grey ? You're signed out or your sign-in expired. Click the icon to sign in again.
Grey ! CommsLink couldn't check your email. Hover over the icon to see why.

When desktop alerts are on, you'll see "You have 1 new email" when the count goes up. Alerts never include the sender, subject, or message.

Because checks run hourly, an alert can arrive up to an hour after the email does. If you read an email before the next check, CommsLink won't alert you about it.

Signing out or switching accounts

  1. In your everyday Chrome, right-click the CommsLink icon and choose Options.
  2. Click Sign out. CommsLink disconnects and removes its access to your account.
  3. To connect a different account, follow Part 2 of the setup again.

Troubleshooting

Problem What to do
The count and alerts only show up while I'm in CMMC Space CommsLink is installed in the CMMC Space browser. Remove it there, then install it in your everyday Chrome (Part 1).
"Sign-in link expired" Links last 10 minutes. On the Settings tab, click Cancel, then Copy sign-in link for a new one.
"That code doesn't match" Type the code exactly as shown on the Settings tab in your everyday Chrome. After 5 wrong tries the link is cancelled, so start again with a new link.
"Link already used" Each link works once. Copy a new sign-in link.
"Permission needed" after the Google screen The label-count permission was unchecked. Start again and leave that box checked.
Google says access is blocked by your administrator Your organization's Google Workspace administrator needs to approve CommsLink v2. Contact your administrator or CMMC Space support.
The Settings tab never changes to "Connected" The Settings tab has to stay open while you approve. Reopen it (right-click the icon → Options) within 10 minutes and it picks up where you left off. Otherwise start again.
Pasting into the CMMC Space browser doesn't work Contact CMMC Space support.
Grey ? on the icon Your sign-in ended. Click the icon and connect again (Part 2).
Grey ! on the icon Hover over the icon to see the reason, then contact CMMC Space support with that message.
No desktop alerts Check that alerts are turned on in CommsLink Settings and that your computer allows Chrome notifications (step 14). Alerts arrive up to an hour after the email.

What can CommsLink see? 

Only the number of unread emails in your inbox. It can't read message lists, senders, subjects, or content.

What does it store? 

Your email address, so it can show which account is connected, and an encrypted sign-in token kept in ATX Defense's CMMC Space environment. Both are deleted when you sign out, or after 90 days without use.

How do I remove its access? 

Sign out in CommsLink Settings. You can also remove it from your Google account at myaccount.google.com/permissions.

What happened to external email alerts? 

CommsLink v1 sent alerts to an external email address, and those alerts were sometimes filtered to spam or blocked - depending on the maturity of your CMMC Space domain. CommsLink v2 shows alerts directly in your everyday Chrome instead, so you no longer need to enter an external address.

For more detail, see the CMMC Space privacy policy.

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