Not masking your email could put you at risk – here’s how to fix it
Temporary emails are the next logical step to protect your privacy
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Gone are the days when you should be entering your real email address into a website. It’s far too easy for websites to sell the information you provide to data brokers who use your email for marketing, targeted ads, and even reselling.
Why you should mask your email
Beyond the threat of nefarious data brokers, if you’ve ever had the misfortune of your email address being leaked in a data breach, it’s likely kept on thedark webfor scammers and cybercriminals alike to target. There are countless databases where hackers store your information to use for scams and future hacking attempts.
If you’re not sure, head toHaveibeenpwnedto see if your email has ever been leaked.
There have even been instances ofgovernment bodies buying data broker informationfor surveillance purposes.
An easy way to protect your details from being leaked is to not hand them out in the first place. By giving out masked emails when you sign up for services and accounts, you can simply destroy the email at the click of a button when you’re done. That means scammers won’t be able to target you – they’ll be targeting a dead email.
Fast and easy email masking
If you want to shore up your privacy, there are two services I’d recommend above all else:NordVPNandSurfshark. You may be asking yourself “Why would I buy a VPN to mask my email?” The simple answer is that both of these services let you create and remove email masks at the touch of a button. No creating a secondarysecure email, setting up redirects manually, and having to remember multiple passwords and logins – save your time and do it all in a single click.
They’ll even auto-inject the fake email into your browser for you, so you don’t have to remember what that new email address was. It’s no surprise they’re two of thebest VPN serviceson the market.
Get NordVPN– from $3.39 per monthThe best VPN for most peopleNordVPN offers simple and intuitive email masking that even integrates with its built-in password manager,NordPass. It’s also our top recommendation as the best VPN for most people. Alongside easy-to-use apps, amazing content unblocking, and super-fast speeds, Nord offers fantastic value for money at$3.39 per monthif you’re happy to sign up for two years. With a range of additional privacy tools to bolt on, you don’t need to pay more for stuff you won’t use. Alternatively, you can try it out risk-free with a 30-day money-back guarantee if you’re not ready to commit.
Try Surfshark– from $2.19 per monthThe best cheap VPNIf you want to mask your email with a VPN that’s as budget-friendly as it is high-quality, Surfshark is an excellent option. Plus, if you’re using Surfshark in the US, you can even mask your phone number, too! It’ll soon be rolling out elsewhere, so if you’re in Europe, be sure to keep an eye out for it. As well as being super easy to use, Surfshark is consistently one of the fastest andbest streaming VPNswe’ve tested over the past 12 months. Plus, Surfshark offers a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can try before you buy.
The value doesn’t stop there, though. Beyond masking your email, you can use these VPNs to protect your devices from hackers,stream Netflix abroad, and even block ads and malware. There are so manybenefits of using a VPN!
Take advantage of the money-back guarantees to get two months of protection before you decide whether or not to commit.
Want to go a step further?
If you want to go on the privacy offensive, check outIncogni– it actively removes your information from data brokers and helps prevent you from being exploited by aggressive marketing and advertisers. I’ve been using it for a year now and I getwayless spam and targeted ads.
You can evenget Incogni included in the cost of your Surfshark subscription, cutting the cost massively compared to buying each tool separately.
Whatever you decide to do, make sure you keep your email address private and you won’t have to deal with unnecessary spam.
Andreas has been with TechRadar as Future PLC’s Editor-in-Chief of Tech Software since March 2023, supporting content and teams on VPNs, antivirus, and other cybersecurity tools. He’s previously written for and led content at ProPrivacy, Business2Community, and The Tech Report. After completing a Master of Research degree, Andreas fell in love with all things cybersecurity; combining his passions to help expose the prevalence of ad tech in the charity sector and raise awareness of digital privacy around the world.
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