Google + and Gmail

1. 81

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

   Google is apparently extending its reach even further into our lives. They sent a notification today that when we compose emails in Gmail, they will 'suggest' possible recipients based on our G+ circles.  This, of course, implies that anyone in those circles will also get prompts to include us as recipients.
   
   We can change this in our Gmail settings (it took me a while to find it). But this was one of the last straws for me - I deleted my entire G+ profile.  Actually, I had a few of them, due to multiple email accounts & the way they automatically include you in G+ (I get notifications all the time that someone 'added' me or whatever - even if I don't have a G+ account associated with that email address).
   
   Am I the only one who thinks this is intrusive and spammish?
   
   Yes, I know my HP traffic will tank if I am not bowing before the Throne of Google, but that's the price I'll have to pay.

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   1. 77

      LuisEGonzalezposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Google is indeed very intrusive and therefore I do not have a Gmail account, instead using Yahoo. On that note Yahoo is now placing ads on emails!

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      1. 85

         Marisa Wrightposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Be careful with Yahoo - it's very susceptible to hackers.
         
         I've had two Yahoo accounts for years.  I had to abandon one because someone was able to access it to send spam emails to my contacts.  I have six other friends with Yahoo accounts and the same thing has happened to them, one of them quite recently. The process to report it to Yahoo is not at all satisfactory.
         
         The only reason my other Yahoo account is OK is that I've deleted all my contacts! 
         
         Hotmail is not much better.

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         1. 87

            Jodahposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I agree Marisa, my Yahoo email account has been hacked three times and fake emails sent to my contacts. I have to continually change my password. Also my spam folder continually has more emails in it than my inbox. I do have gmail and find it ok, but I agree with Mary it is becoming ridiculous when they can suggest which contacts to write to as well as the advertising and suggested products based on your emails and google searches.

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         2. 96

            watergeekposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            I don't put any contacts on Yahoo. I don't have a profile, but do use YahooGroups and Yahoo/ATT for email. However, I download all my emails, so no one else can track them. I have a Mac, which makes it easier.

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   2. 94

      ChitrangadaSharanposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I agree this is intrusive! Time to change the settings!

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2. 36

   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   I agree.  Google has become way over the top with many of its "features" - I don't use them for search anymore and I never use my Gmail account either.  I begrudgingly use Google+ but prefer Pinterest and Twitter.

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3. 81

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

   What's worse, IMO, is that other gmail users will get invited to send us emails. This would jam our inboxes miserably.
   
   BTW - I agree about Yahoo - almost all my friends who have been hacked have had Yahoo accounts.

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4. 72

   Shanna11posted 11 years ago

   Hey Marcy-- where exactly did you find the setting to turn it off within the settings? I can't find it, but I definitely don't want my email showing up for casual contacts who have put me in their circles.

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   1. 81

      Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Shanna - see if this works:
      
      On gmsil, click on the gear Icon on upper right
      From the drop-down menu, select settings
      It should open to the General tab
      About halfway down, you'll see a section on left-hand side that says Email via Google+
      It will say, 'Who can email you via your Google+ profile?'
      There's a drop-down menu - you can select no one, or circles, etc.
      
      FYI - the default for that area is that ANYONE on Google+ can email us!  That was what really irked me.  We have to turn that off to avoid spam or contacts from people we don't even know.
      
      Hope this helps -
      
      Marcy

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      1. 87

         Jodahposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks Marcy, I have changed my setting to circles only.

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