Google new creepy feature lets strangers send you email

Washington: Google has reportedly introduced a controversial feature to its email service, Gmail, which allows anyone to send email to an unknown Google+ user simply by typing his or her name in the 'send to' field.

Google representatives have said that by default, anyone on its social network will be able to send messages to a user's Gmail inbox.

According to The Verge, once the service goes live over the next few days, a new setting will appear in Gmail called 'Email via Google+', which would allow users to opt out of the 'default' settings by selecting 'no one' or alternative options from the menu.

However, a user's email address will not be visible until one chooses to respond to the email sent via Google+.

The search giant also said that emails from Google+ users outside one's social network circles will not come in the "primary" inbox but will be placed in the new "social" tab.

Recently, the company also made its Google+ integration mandatory for users to be able to post comments on video site YouTube, which in turn drew a lot of flak because users were required to log in through their Google+ id, if they didn't have one, they were required to make one.