Gmail: More Privacy Concerns

A new article written by the Huffington Post reveals that Gmail is about to become less private than ever due to it's integration with Google+.

"If you're a Gmail user, you probably also have a Google+ account.

Until now, that likely meant nothing to you. However, with a new Gmail update, random people on Google+ will be able to send emails to your Gmail account without you ever having given them your email address, according to a new post on the Official Gmail Blog.

These messages from strangers will arrive in your Gmail inbox just like emails, but the stranger won't know your email address unless you respond. "Your email address isn't visible to a Google+ connection unless you send that person an email, and likewise, that person’s email address isn’t visible to you unless they send you an email," Google explains."

If privacy is a major concern for you or you would rather avoid the impact of strangers being able to flood your inbox with unwanted mail Google has made it fairly easy to opt out.

Unfortunately, Google has made the "Email from Google+" system an "opt-out" instead of "opt-in" method so have to change your settings so "no one" (see above) can reach you via email through Google+.

I'm still not sure what advantage Google felt it's users would gain from this system since it would be just as easy for someone to send you a message on Google+ and you would receive notification of that in your email anyways. Maybe it is another push to get people involved on Google+?