The German encrypted email service Tutanota, an encrypted email service based in Germany, has released an iOS app. The company unveiled an Android app a few weeks back but was delayed with the iOS app because of strictures rules for open source app publication in iTunes. The new app uses encryption based on open-source software to encrypt emails and give senders more privacy.

China is not letting down in its fight against Gmail. Internet monitoring website Greatfire.org claims that the Asian nation "started to block large numbers of IP addresses used by Gmail" starting on Dec. 26, and that account holders had "no way of accessing Gmail behind the Great Firewall." While Google reported that service was restored last week, some users still can't access their accounts in China. Experts believe that China is fighting Google in hopes that its citizens will avoid using Gmail for communications and will in turn choose Chinese-made email platforms.

Security researchers have identified a new malware that is being used to target consumer bank accounts. The Emomet malware can also steal email usernames and passwords in order to send spam messages from an unsuspecting email account. The spam has primarily been attacking consumers in Germany, but has also been seen in Austria, Switzerland and Hungary. The attack begins with a spam email that claims to come from a bank that is loaded with malware if a consumer interacts with it.

A tax preparation email is in circulation which includes false tax information. The email tells recipients ago watch for higher taxes in connection with Medicare as well as to be on the lookout for increases in payroll taxes and capital gains taxes. Yet the information is outdated and comes from a January 1, 2014 email.

British conservative party politician Sir Alan Duncan is proposing a bill that would ban government agencies in the UK from printing out emails. Duncan called the practice antiquated and said that it wastes "forests' worth of paper." He suggested this practice be replaced by adding links to disclaimers.

Canadian company Slack is working on a tool to help workers better use email. The software aggregates messages from across platforms and prioritizes them for recipients. The goal is to help the important messages rise to the top of the inbox and not get buried in the deluge of mail. The tool pulls communications from Skype to ZenDesk into one central portal.

Hollywood director Christopher Nolan doesn't use email. "I've never used email because I don't find it would help me with anything I'm doing," he told The Hollywood Reporter. "I just couldn't be bothered about it." As he recently told The New York Times, if he does need to read an email, his assistant prints it out for him.

If your New Year's resolution is to clean out your inbox, then it's worth revisiting Google CEO Eric Schmidt's tips for reaching inbox zero. In his book How Google Works, he shares tips on how to use email effectively. For instance, Schmidt says that every word matters and discourages long flowery messages. He also recommends asking specific questions and encourages avoiding open ended questions.

While many studies have found that accessing work email around the clock can have a negative affect on one's health, that doesn't stop anyone in the business world from expecting a response. In fact, according to a new report from email app MailTime, fifty-two percent of workers expect a response within 12 to 24 hours of hitting send and 19 percent of participants expected a response within 12 hours. Only 3 percent of people said that they would be ok with a work-related email response that takes a week.

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a spate of confirmation emails that appear to come from legitimate brands but are actually spam. These malicious messages often claim to come from the likes of Walmart, Home Depot and Target. The spam message says that a purchase has shipped and tries to get recipients to share personal details on a malicious link.