How to Block Random Google+ Users From Emailing You in Gmail

Privacy is of the utmost concern for many people online today, and Google+, the social network trying its darndest to compete with Facebook, rolled out a new feature last week to try to rev up its popularity – Gmail integration into Google+.

That’s right, it’s now possible for Google+ users to email you even if they don’t know your Gmail address. While this feature will make the stalkers of the world happy, for the rest of us…not so much. Google has added Google+ users as possible “email address predictions” that show up when entering letters in the “To” field of a new email, and if you reply, they’ll have your email address.
This feature has been introduced with an Opt-Out setting, which means you would need to manually set the option to make sure you don’t received unwanted emails. You can batten down the hatches of your Gmail account so random Google+ users, spammers and businesses can’t take advantage of this new feature. Google had the foresight at least to make it something you can turn off.

How to Avoid Getting Email From Anyone on Google+

Login to Gmail

It’s important to know that the Gmail integration into Google+ was added just last week, so some users may not have it rolled out to their account yet. If it has been rolled out to your account, know that it will be “automatically enabled,” so turning it off, or at the very least modifying the settings, is paramount.
To adjust these new settings, you first need to login to the Gmail account associated with your Google+ account. Once you’re logged in, click the “gear icon” at the top right of your screen and select “Settings.”

Adjusting the Google+ Settings

After clicking “Settings” in Gmail, the “Settings” area will load landing you on the “General tab. You’ll want to stay on this tab and just scroll down until you see the newly added area under “Conversations” that reads – “Email via Google+.” This is the section where you can edit the Google+ settings integrated into Gmail.

To adjust the settings, click the drop-down menu where it says “Circles” (the default setting), and select the setting that best fits your privacy preferences.
You can choose from the following options in regards to who on Google+ can email you without knowing your email address:
Anyone on Google+
Extended Circles (those who follow people who follow you),
and Circles (those who directly follow you and if you really don’t want anyone to email you via Google+) and finally “No one.”

Once you’ve chosen the setting you want, make sure to scroll to the very bottom of the page and click “Save Changes” for the new Google+ email preferences to take effect.

Conclusion

It’s important for all Google+ users to know about any updates that bring with them privacy concerns, and this is one of the more important ones. If you use your Gmail account often and use Google+ just as much, changing this email setting is a good idea. Switching your email settings to at the very least only allowing “Circles” will help eliminate most of the unwanted email likely to arrive with this new Gmail integration.

The Original Article is Published at Technorms Here

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