Google is about to give anyone your email. Sigh. - Tips, Reviews and Advice on All Things Digital - The Kim Komando Radio Show
Google is about to give anyone your email. Sigh.
Big Internet companies have a bad habit of launching new features that completely undermine your privacy. A few months ago, Facebook took the stage with a slew of questionable privacy changes. Find out what they were and how you can protect yourself.
This time around, it's Google's turn. It made some tweaks that let total strangers email you - even without knowing your email address.
This tweak only affects you if you use both Gmail and Google+. Before you stop reading, however, know that if you have any Google account - such as a YouTube account - you also have a Google+ account whether you use it or not. Anyone can find it if they look.
To see your Google+ account, open Gmail and look in the upper right corner. You'll see your name with a "+" in front of it. Click that to see your Google+ profile. In YouTube, click your profile icon in the upper right corner and click Google+.
So, how does this new system work? Google now includes Google+ friends in your Gmail address book. That way you can send email to a friend without needing to remember their address.
If someone in one of your circles - Google+'s version of Facebook's "friends" - messages you this way, the email shows up in the Primary inbox tab in Gmail. Simple and not a problem.
- See more at: Google is about to give anyone your email. Sigh. - Tips, Reviews and Advice on All Things Digital - The Kim Komando Radio Show
Google is about to give anyone your email. Sigh.
Big Internet companies have a bad habit of launching new features that completely undermine your privacy. A few months ago, Facebook took the stage with a slew of questionable privacy changes. Find out what they were and how you can protect yourself.
This time around, it's Google's turn. It made some tweaks that let total strangers email you - even without knowing your email address.
This tweak only affects you if you use both Gmail and Google+. Before you stop reading, however, know that if you have any Google account - such as a YouTube account - you also have a Google+ account whether you use it or not. Anyone can find it if they look.
To see your Google+ account, open Gmail and look in the upper right corner. You'll see your name with a "+" in front of it. Click that to see your Google+ profile. In YouTube, click your profile icon in the upper right corner and click Google+.
So, how does this new system work? Google now includes Google+ friends in your Gmail address book. That way you can send email to a friend without needing to remember their address.
If someone in one of your circles - Google+'s version of Facebook's "friends" - messages you this way, the email shows up in the Primary inbox tab in Gmail. Simple and not a problem.
- See more at: Google is about to give anyone your email. Sigh. - Tips, Reviews and Advice on All Things Digital - The Kim Komando Radio Show