Google+ – How to Remove Yourself from Search

google-plusprivacy

Sorry if this is confusing.

I received notification in my Gmail saying someone added me to their circle and invited me to join Google+. I'm assuming Google+ allows users to find people by name or email address. That person doesn't have my email address, so I guess that leaves my name.

I'm not on Google+, so I don't know why I'd be searchable. I want to make sure strangers can't just type in my name in Google+ and actually be SHOWN my Gmail address or otherwise have me come up at all regardless of what it shows them. Is that possible?

Best Answer

As you suggest in your comments, they can find you with your alternate mail—the mail you add in case you lose your password / other security reasons.

If your contact has a Google profile associated with any email address, including an alternate email address, or profile link you’ve stored in that contact’s entry, you'll see information from their profile beneath the information you've entered. Only information the contact has made public, or has allowed you to see, will be visible to you.

Source.

The same goes for Google Drive. I usually share files with Hotmail addresses and they are automatically changed to the associated Gmail account.

P.S.: I think that Google automatically creates a Google+ account for you. Even if you don't want it to. Anyway, review your privacy settings on Google+.

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