Online security firm Bitdefender has identified a spam outbreak targeting Google users. The spam email claims to be from Google and has the subject line "Mail Notice" or "Lookout Notice." The message in the email reads: "This is a reminder that your email will be locked out in 24 hours, due to not being able to increase your email storage quota. Go to the INSTANT INCREASE to increase your Email storage automatically." A link in the email directs recipients to a fake Google login page and encourages visitors to sign in with their passwords. The victims have exposed their Gmail, …

Facebook is encouraging email providers to use STARTTLS, a tool that encrypts emails as they pass between servers and clients. The social network is taking this position after their analysis showed that SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) servers that add features now would start encrypting more than half of outbound email traffic. Facebook sends a few billion email notifications daily to email addresses across millions of domain names.

The number of marketing emails opened on a tablet went from 13.8 percent in Q2 2013 to 18.5 percent in the Q1 2014, according to new research from Movable Ink. The report also revealed that 66 percent of all email opens come from a mobile device. Oddly enough, the research revealed that consumers opened more emails on Apple devices but spent more time with emails on Android devices.

Microsoft has released a new update for Outlook.com that allows users to set up their own email experience. For example, users can now set up automatic actions based on time limits, if an email is read or not, as well as how familiar a contact is. For example, a user can designate that an email from a friend is important and if they haven't read it in a couple of days it will pop back up to the top of the inbox. In addition, the update brings integration with Skype messaging.

Private Box, a company in Australia has launched a service that turns snail mail into email. The company allows its 1,200 customers to access print mail online, by receiving and scanning documents that are then delivered to customers. The company acts as a kind of outsourced mail room for hundreds of small businesses and individuals.

CBS has obtained an email exchange from a Veterans Affairs employee at the VA Medical Center in Cheyenne, Wyoming which reveals evidence of trying to cover up long wait lists at VA hospitals. The email exposed how the nurse had figured out how to game the appointments system so that it looked as though veterans were being seen within the VA's 14-day directive.

Looking to add a little spice to your subject lines? Technorati has created a list of weird subject lines that gotten recipients' attention. For example, when Barack Obama sent out an email with the subject line, "Hey," he got his constituents to turn their heads. In fact, Obama used email to raise the majority of his $690 million in campaign funds.

Google is reportedly working on a total redesign of Gmail, according to screenshots circulating around the blogosphere. The new Gmail Web interface appears to be redesigned to be more mobile friendly and to better incorporate other Gmail tools like Hangouts and Chat. The inbox has been replaced with a "fly-in" mailbox which comes into the picture in the left window. A blue toolbar on the top left will features an Inbox folder, a search bar and a Hangouts button.

When the human rights lawyer Amal Almuddin wouldn't take his phone number, George Clooney turned to email to woo his new fianc He emailed her and wrote, "think the reported hottest man in the world should meet with the hottest human rights lawyer in the world," a reference to Almuddin's being voted "the hottest barrister in London" by Your Barrister Boyfriend blog, and the actor's common placement on sexiest man alive lists.

Penn State has plans to launch a daily email newsletter to students, faculty and staff beginning in June. Penn State Today will go out to tens of thousands people. It will feature news updates of about the university.