How to hide your email address

Today, almost every online activity requires registering with an email address, which has become as important as a cell phone. But sharing your email address exposes you to various risks that threaten your online security. So how to hide your email address when you use it to communicate or subscribe to the services you need?

There is a simple solution — you can use email aliases or email discovery services to hide your email address. So what is an email alias? What are three ways to keep your email private? And why do you need to hide your email address? We will answer these questions in this article.

Common email threats

• Spam and unwanted email. When your email address is publicly visible online (e.g., on websites or social media), it automatically becomes a target for spambots and marketing campaigns. Over time, you will find your inbox overflowing with irrelevant or even malicious emails. It will be difficult to find the real messages in such a mess.

• Phishing attacks and scams. Cybercriminals often use email addresses to launch phishing attacks. These scams usually look like this: you receive an email that looks legitimate but is designed to steal your sensitive information, such as your account or financial information. If you click on a malicious link or download an attachment in such an email, the consequences can be devastating.

• Risk of identity theft and data breaches. Hackers can hijack your email account to gain access to other personal information. With access to your private messages, attackers can impersonate you and make unauthorized transactions or open financial accounts.

Hiding your email address can greatly reduce your exposure to the risks described above. Using email aliases and email masking services can make it harder for cybercriminals and spammers to harm you. This level of protection keeps your inbox safe and helps you stay calm in a challenging digital world.

Methods for hiding your email address

Using email aliases

Mail aliases are virtual copies of an existing email address that can be used to receive messages without having to have other email accounts. They are associated with your primary email and do not require separate accounts, such as additional login or password. The alias can be on the same domain as the original address or on a different domain.

The principle of aliases is that sent email correspondence is automatically sent to the main mailbox hidden behind the alias.

Learn how to hide your email address in different services.

Gmail

1. Sign in to the Google Admin Console with an administrator account. If you're not using an administrator account, you won't be able to access the Admin Console.

2. In the Admin Console, go to Menu → Directory → Users.

3. Click a user's name to open the User Settings page. If you need help finding the user in the list, see Find a user account.

4. In the left pane, under the user's name, click Add alternate email.

5. Click Alternate email and type a name for the alias (the part of the address before the @ sign). If necessary, select a secondary domain.

6. Click Save.

Outlook

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account.

2. Under Add an Alias, do one of the following:

• Create a new Outlook.com e-mail address and record it as an alias.

• Add an existing address as an alias.

3. Click Add an alias.

Other platforms

Many other email providers also offer aliases. This usually involves adding a secondary email address to your account through the settings menu.

Email aliases are very handy when you want to organize your emails and track how your address is being shared.

• Tracking email usage: Aliases help you determine which service or company may have been using your email address. For example, if your primary email is myemail@gmail.com, you can use myemail+netflix@gmail.com to sign up for Netflix. If messages from anyone except Netflix arrives at this alias, you can be sure who leaked or shared your email.

• Disable unwanted aliases: If an alias is receiving too much spam, or if an alias is no longer needed, it is easy to disable it. This allows you to stop receiving mail to that alias without having to close your main email or other aliases.

• Organize your email: If you create an alias for a specific purpose, such as myemail+shopping@gmail.com for online shopping and myemail+newsletters@gmail.com for newsletters, you will be able to better organize your email.

Aliases do not prevent spam by themselves, but they do provide tools to improve email handling and increase the level of control you have over your mailbox.

Masking emails with disposable email addresses

Disposable email addresses are a tool that can help you maintain your privacy online and reduce the amount of spam in your primary inbox. Disposable addresses allow you to hide your primary email address, making them a convenient solution in situations where you are unsure about the security of a particular resource.

Benefits

• Privacy: Disposable addresses hide your primary email address, reducing the amount of spam and phishing messages you get.

• Security: No need to enter your personal information when registering, you can generate an address instantly.

• Less clutter: Using a disposable address for signups or trials prevents you from receiving promotional emails in your main inbox.

Limitations

• Short-term use: Disposable addresses are not suitable for long-term communication, they always expire.

• Limited features: Many services lack advanced features such as a calendar or strong security protocols.

• Possible compatibility issues with other services: Some sites or services may block disposable email domains during registration.

Examples of scenarios where disposable addresses are useful

• Online registration: Use a disposable address when registering for sites or services you do not fully trust, such as free trials or forums.

• Avoid spam: Share a temporary email address when participating in giveaways, contests, or surveys that are prone to high spam activity.

Using email forwarding services

Email forwarding services are a convenient solution for maintaining anonymity while not losing important messages. These services allow you to have other email addresses that forward all mail to your real address, so your real email address is not exposed to the public.

Email forwarding services and email aliases are not the same thing, they have different purposes. Forwarding services create a completely new email address which forwards mail to your real mailbox, but the sender cannot see the real address — useful for anonymous correspondence. Aliases are "copies" of your primary address (for example, your real address + any modifier, such as "myemail+ alias@gmail.com") and are mostly used to sort mail or determine who has shared your address with others. Unlike with forwarding, with aliases your real address is usually still visible to the sender.

How does email forwarding work?

When you subscribe to an email forwarding service, you are given one or more special email addresses. Any email sent to these addresses is automatically forwarded to your main mailbox. Some services also allow you to send mail from the forwarding address while hiding your real address from the recipient. However, this feature may require some configuration, such as setting up an SMTP server or using the service's web interface.

This setup helps to develop a shield between the actual email account and the rest of the world to prevent exposure to spam and unwanted contacts. This is to ensure that the real email address is not accidentally leaked through the headers of the offered service.

Secure forwarding services

1. SimpleLogin

• SimpleLogin is an email forwarding service that allows users to create as many aliases as they want.

• It has some additional features such as support for custom domains and replying to messages using the alias, hiding their real email address.

• Being a private email service, SimpleLogin works well with other email services such as Gmail and ProtonMail among others.

2. AnonAddy

• AnonAddy offers email forwarding with high levels of encryption and privacy protection.

• Users can create temporary avatars to separate their online activities.

• This makes it more secure because it is open source software that makes it possible to verify its authenticity.

3. Fastmail

• Fastmail supports basic email forwarding, but also offers aliases as part of its services.

• Its reliability and ease of use make it suitable for home and business use.

Best practices for keeping your email secure

Hiding your email address is a good way to go, but you shouldn't neglect security practices, as your email account is a prime target for cybercriminals. To protect your email from unauthorized access and potential threats, follow these tips to improve security.

1. Using strong, unique passwords for your accounts

A strong password is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself from hackers. Use a long password with a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters to create a password that is difficult to guess. Avoid using the same password for multiple accounts, and do not use your birth date or phone number in your password. Better yet, use a password generator that can create a complex combination of letters and numbers.

2. Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second verification step beyond your password. This could be a one-time code sent to your phone, a biometric scan, or a physical security key. Even if your password is compromised, 2FA ensures that unauthorized access is unlikely without the additional verification factor. Most email providers, including Gmail and Outlook, offer easy setup for 2FA.

3. Regularly monitoring for signs of compromised accounts

Look for signs that your email account may have been compromised. These signs include unusual login activity, unexpected password reset requests, or unfamiliar sent emails in your account. Use tools like Google Security Checkup or websites like Have I Been Pwned to see if your email address has been involved in a data breach.

4. Avoiding sharing your email address unnecessarily

Be careful when sharing your email address with others. Limiting its disclosure reduces the risk of spam, phishing, and targeted attacks. When registering for online services or mailing lists, it is better to use disposable email addresses or aliases to protect your main account. Avoid posting your email address on public forums and social media profiles.

AdGuard Temp Mail: a convenient solution for email privacy

AdGuard Temp Mail provides quick access to aliases and disposable email addresses that can be used for temporary purposes. Without the need to register or provide personal information, users can instantly generate an email address, receive messages and avoid exposing their real account. The service integrates seamlessly with AdGuard's broader suite of privacy tools, enhancing security and anonymity. Messages sent to the temporary address appear in an easy-to-use inbox and are automatically deleted after a set period of time, ensuring no data is left behind.

Problems AdGuard Temp Mail solves:

• Spam. Signing up for online services, newsletters, or free trials often leads to your email address being added to spam lists. AdGuard Temp Mail provides a disposable address, ensuring your main inbox remains free of promotional clutter.

• Phishing attacks. Whenever you use your real email account to register for an online service, you risk it eventually getting into the spammers' hands. By using a temporary address, you reduce the likelihood of falling victim to such scams since your real email remains hidden.

• Privacy issues. When engaging with unfamiliar or untrusted platforms, providing your real email can lead to data misuse or unauthorized sharing. AdGuard Temp Mail eliminates this concern by acting as a protective shield for your actual address.

• Testing and one-time interactions. Temporary addresses are ideal for testing software, accessing free trials, or participating in forums where long-term communication isn’t necessary. This ensures your primary email isn’t tied to these temporary engagements.

• Data breaches. In case a service you've interacted with experiences a data breach, your primary email remains unaffected because the temporary address becomes irrelevant once deleted.

Conclusion

Your email address is a gateway to your digital life, which makes protecting it a priority in an increasingly connected world. By taking steps to hide your email address, you can significantly reduce the risk of spam, phishing attempts, and identity theft.

From using aliases and disposable addresses to using forwarding services, each method offers a practical way to improve your online privacy. These strategies allow you to remain accessible while keeping your real email address secure and out of reach of potential threats.

Protecting your email address doesn't just protect your inbox — it protects your entire digital identity. Start implementing these practices today to take control of your email privacy and enjoy a safer online experience.