If you want to open an account for a new online service but prefer not to use your regular email address, you have a few options. For example, if you use Gmail, you can apply certain tricks to filter potential spam emails that may come later. The most well-known method is to add a plus sign (“+”) to your email address. However, Google appears to be developing an alternative option as well.
This new feature is called “Shielded Email,” which Android Authority detected in the beta version 24.45.33 of Google Play services. According to the description, the feature is designed to “keep your email address private.”
Shielded Email is likely intended for use when creating new accounts in Android apps. The description says that it can help “protect you from online tracking and data breaches.” However, it remains unclear if it’ll also be useful for creating accounts on web services.
To accomplish this, the system generates several single-use or limited-use aliases that forward messages to your primary address. The primary idea behind Shielded Email is that emails from services where you’ve registered will reach your main email address only if you haven’t disabled the email forwarding. This way, your real email address is concealed behind these aliases that act as auxiliary email addresses.
Shielded Email is currently not available, given that Android Authority has only found its description in the beta version. However, this typically suggests that it’s under development and might be released soon. It’s unclear at this time whether the feature will be accessible to all users or if it’ll be exclusive to subscribers of the Google One program.
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