Google is working on a privacy-focused feature that would let you create an email alias called "Shielded Email". The folks at Android Authority have discovered hints of the new security feature in the code of Google Play Services and were also able to see the option in the Autofill settings menu, although it is not yet functional.
Nowadays every service, app, and website wants you to create an account for it, and sharing our email addresses here and there has become a normal practice.
Gmail is dealing pretty well with fighting and filtering spam, but every time you share your email, it seems like you could be risking unwanted contacts. Heck, I have an email address specifically for registering here and there, if I put my regular one everywhere, I won't be able to see legit emails among a bunch of marketing materials and randomness.
It seems Google has a solution to the worry of having to share your email online. Hints about it were discovered in the 24.45.33 release of Google Play Services. The feature is reportedly going to be called "Shielded Email".
Recommended For You
Image Credit - Android Authority
Shielded Email appears to be a system to create single-use or limited-use email aliases that will forward messages to your primary account. It seems to be curated for apps that ask for your email address.
There are quite a few reasons why you'd want your email address private, not only to prevent spam. In fact, keeping your email private can reduce the extent to which your online activity can be tracked, and also can protect you from potential data breaches that could happen in the future.
We don't know exactly how this feature will function with certainty just yet, as it's still under development. However, it seems to me to be similar to Apple's "Hide My Email" feature which also creates an alias so you don't have to put your iCloud email everywhere.
I like that Google is working on such a feature, and I'm always a fan of efforts to prevent spam and to keep your internet presence private.
Grab the Pixel 10 at Mint Mobile for $450 off
$349
$799
$450 off (56%)
Mint Mobile now sells the Google Pixel 10 with a massive $450 discount. The promo is available on select color variants with 128GB of storage. You also get a 12-month unlimited data plan for $180 instead of $360.
Grab the pro-grade, compact Pixel 10 Pro at Mint Mobile with a 12-month unlimited plan, and you can save a huge $475. The data plan comes with a discount, too: 50% off, to be exact.
The high-end Gemini AI-enhanced Pixel 10 Pro XL is now available with a mind-blowing discount. You can now save $700 on the phone, plus 50% off unlimited 12-month plans.
The foldable Pixel 10 Pro Fold is another standout holiday offer. Right now, you can get the device for $400 off at Mint Mobile. On top of that, you save $180 on 12-month unlimited data plans.
Izzy, a tech enthusiast and a key part of the PhoneArena team, specializes in delivering the latest mobile tech news and finding the best tech deals. Her interests extend to cybersecurity, phone design innovations, and camera capabilities. Outside her professional life, Izzy, a literature master's degree holder, enjoys reading, painting, and learning languages. She's also a personal growth advocate, believing in the power of experience and gratitude. Whether it's walking her Chihuahua or singing her heart out, Izzy embraces life with passion and curiosity.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: