Google starts deleting unused accounts

[janusz]

From 1 December 2023 Google will start deleting unused accounts (including, but not limited to, Gmail).
As this Google blog entry explains, this will be a phased process, with plenty of warning. Accounts that were created and never used will be the first to go.

[Bamb0]

Why do they care if accts arent used??

It doesnt take any space having them there really

[n5bb]

Originally Posted by Bamb0

Why do they care if accts arent used??
It doesnt take any space having them there really

You need to read the first two paragraphs in the link in the first post in this thread. It’s all about security. All companies should close unused accounts to reduce the ability of criminals to take over such accounts and do many bad things with them.

Bill

[pjroutledge]

Originally Posted by n5bb

All companies should close unused accounts to reduce the ability of criminals to take over such accounts and do many bad things with them.

Bill

Agree, but if Google is deleting unused accounts, and the account id (email address, or whatever) consequently becomes available for re-use, could a criminal create a new account with the same id and do many bad things with it?

For example, if I had an old but recently unused account 'bill.gates@gmail.com' that was deleted by Google, would a bad guy be able to create a new 'bill.gates@gmail.com' account and then perpetrate bad things by purporting to be the original bill.gates? (Assuming that the old account had established some credibility or trust among bill.gates contacts and/or accounts on other websites in the past.)

Seems unlikely, but the article doesn't seem to clearly say whether deleted ids become available again.

[n5bb]

Originally Posted by pjroutledge

Agree, but if Google is deleting unused accounts, and the account id (email address, or whatever) consequently becomes available for re-use, could a criminal create a new account with the same id and do many bad things with it? …

Google has a policy of not recycling usernames, so that old email address is not available for re-use. See:
https://support.google.com/accounts/...21795109785-NC
… and:
https://support.google.com/mail/answ...233519696&rd=1

Bill

[chrisretusn]

Have no issue with this. They announced this awhile ago. You want to keep the account then use it. Why have an account if you are not going to use it. By "use it" I periodically access it. For example check for messages. I check all of my accounts daily with one click of a button.

[janusz]

Originally Posted by n5bb

All companies should close unused accounts to reduce the ability of criminals to take over such accounts and do many bad things with them.

This applies equally to regularly used accounts,

[Bamb0]

Originally Posted by chrisretusn

Have no issue with this. They announced this awhile ago. You want to keep the account then use it.

Yea your right........ Its just wierd seeing a company clean up like that,they usually do not.....

[chrisretusn]

Originally Posted by Bamb0

Yea your right........ Its just weird seeing a company clean up like that,they usually do not.....

Yes, this is the first I've seen of a cleanup like this. <Thinking...> I'm thinking there was another not to long ago.

It shouldn't be a data issue, but it could be. I remember the day when you had very little space for email and no attachments. If attachments were allowed, it wouldn't take much to fill you server inbox. It was expected that you download and deleted emails from the server. These days accounts can have loads of messages and files associated with their accounts. I think 15GB is the max limit these days. Multiply that by lots of dead accounts, it adds up. That said, as I put on my tinfoil hat, they are probably deleting the account access but keeping the goods. <sheepish grin>.

I POP3 all of my accounts and delete all after from the server. I'm kind of old school.