Email is now the primary way through which businesses interact with us, be it through login notifications, marketing material, or spam. We’re so often asked for our email address when signing up for accounts, that it’s natural to be bombarded by mail on a daily basis, most of which you have no interest in.
So, should you be using a burner email address? How does this work, and can it help you?
What Is a Burner Email Address?
A burner email address is one which youuse for undesired mail, particularly spamand malicious content. Unlike a burner phone, a burner email isn’t necessarily meant to be used once or twice and then deleted, though you can do this if you wish.
You can use your burner email address on a one-off basis, and then never again, or you can use it on a long-term basis as a sort of trash can for mail you don’t want sent to your primary address. Some incredibly privacy-focused individuals only use burner addresses, ensuring that their online activity or identity cannot be easily traced.
If you’re dealing with such a platform, it’s wise to provide a burner email address when asked, not your main address.
How to Create a Burner Email Address
Creating a burner email address is pretty easy. First, choose your email platform (Outlook, Gmail, ProtonMail, etc.). If you’ve already got an account with a given email provider, it’s best not to link your burner to your original. By linking your burner email to one you use regularly, malicious actors may be able to access the latter if they hack the former.
Some email providers require you to use your phone number upon signup, which they’ll then use to link one to the other. So, to keep your burner email entirely separate from your main email address, it’s best to choose a provider you haven’t used before.
To create a burner address, all you have to do is create a new email account as you normally would. However, unlike your main email address, try not to include any personal information, such as your name or birthday, in your burner email address. Keep things anonymous, including the name on your account.
Do You Need a Burner Email Address?
It’s generally a good idea to have a burner email address, especially if you regularly use smaller, less reputable sites and services.
A lot of shadier sites tend to flood you with spam once you provide your email, and if a site’s developers haven’t worked to make it secure, it can easily be hacked. Hacking a site gives cybercriminals access to customer information, including email addresses, which can even be sold on the dark web.
If you feel like you can’t trust a site but really want to use it, a burner email is a must.
Burner Email Addresses Are a Nifty Security Tool
It’s quick and free to create a burner email, and it may save you from being targeted by scam sites and hackers.
