New Gmail feature lets strangers send you emails

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 their 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 won't be visible till 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.