Using Email Aliases to Protect Your Main Address
Email aliases and masking services let you sign up for things without giving out your main address. How they work, when to use them, and how they cut spam, phishing and breach exposure.
Every time you give out your email address, for a shop, a newsletter, a Wi-Fi login or a competition, it can end up in a marketing list, a data breach or a scammer's database. Email aliases let you keep your main address private while still receiving the mail you want.
What an alias is
An alias is an extra email address that forwards to your real inbox. You give the alias to a website instead of your main address. If it starts receiving spam or phishing, you can see exactly which site leaked it, and switch it off.
Types of aliases
| Type | How it works | Privacy |
|---|---|---|
| Plus addressing | yourname+shop@provider forwards to yourname@provider | Low: your main address is visible |
| Provider aliases | Extra addresses on your email account | Medium |
| Email masking services | Random addresses generated for each site, forwarding to you. Built into some phones, browsers and password managers | High |
| Custom domain | Any address at your own domain | High, with more setup |
How aliases help your security
- Breaches expose an alias, not your main address.
- Phishing is easier to spot: a "bank" email arriving at your shopping alias is obviously fake.
- Less spam in your main inbox, and an off switch when a list gets out of control.
- Harder to link accounts together across sites.
Clever check: if you use a unique alias for each service, any message claiming to be from that service but sent to a different alias is almost certainly a scam.
Where to use them
- Online shops and loyalty schemes
- Newsletters and one-off downloads
- Wi-Fi logins and competitions
- Forums and apps you are trying out
Keep your main, well-protected address for essential accounts, and make sure you will always have access to any alias you use for something important. See why your email is the key to everything.
Things to watch
- Record which alias you used where, for example in your password manager.
- If a masking service shuts down, you need to be able to update those accounts.
- Replying from an alias may reveal your real address unless the service supports replying through the alias.
Got a message at an alias you do not recognise? Paste it into CyberWatch AI Scan for a free check.
For more on protecting your personal details, see our guide to identity theft and account security.
Frequently asked questions
What is an email alias?
A different address that forwards to your main inbox. You can give it out instead of your real address, and often turn it off if it starts receiving spam.
Is plus addressing the same as an alias?
Plus addressing (for example, name+shop@) is a simple form of alias supported by some providers. It is easy but reveals your main address, so it helps with filtering more than privacy.
Should I use aliases for important accounts like my bank?
Many people keep their main address for essential accounts and use aliases for shopping, newsletters and one-off sign-ups. Make sure you never lose access to an alias used for anything important.
Sources
- How To Get Less Spam in Your Email, US Federal Trade Commission
- Protect Your Personal Information From Hackers and Scammers, US Federal Trade Commission
- Have I Been Pwned, Troy Hunt
