How to Get Free Email Forwarding From Mozilla
Email Burner is the best invention since Hotmail. And persistent emails – the fake addresses you give when you sign up for services that are forwarded to your real email address – are even better because they give you a little tap to turn off a lot of spam and other marketing bullshit in your inbox.
Mozilla has just started testing an email alias service called Firefox Private Relay , and I recommend that you check it out. Yes, you will have to use Firefox to install it as it is a Firefox extension, but this is for installation only. Once you’ve set up and running the bogus email address, you can go back to using any browser you want.
At the time of this writing, there is nothing you can do because the beta test of the Mozilla service is (annoyingly) available by invitation only. Once it’s up and running for everyone, you can easily create an email alias that you can set up to forward to your real email address. Thus, you can use this alias until your inbox becomes too crowded with junk mail. Then just remove the alias, create another and start using it.
When should you use a pseudonym over a one-time email?
Obviously, an email alias is better when you sign up for services as a one-off item than, say, entering your primary email address for a service you regularly use (like Netflix). I would not recommend using email forwarding for this, since then you will not be able to regain access to your account after you delete the specified email address – for example, if you ever lose your account password or need to reset it.
Instead, use email aliases for newsletters that interest you indirectly, companies that want you to email before you buy, and new forums or message boards you subscribe to — and the like. The burner account is also good for them, but only when you do not want to have any contact with the company, after you have registered for the service and received everything they sent their way, such as a coupon. (Services like 10 Minute Mail are great for this.)
What can I use while I wait for Firefox Private Relay?
Since you can’t use Firefox Private Relay right now, here are some useful alternatives for email aliases and burner email accounts:
- Maildrop : customizable emails for recording (but alas, not aliases)
- Burner Emails : A great extension for Chrome and Firefox that you can use to create real email aliases.
- Spamgourmet : Free unlimited email aliases (which you set up with the numbers you use in the alias itself. You really need to check this)
- erine.email : Free unlimited email aliases.
- AnonAddy : More email aliases (with free and paid plans)
- An old Gmail trick with a plus and a dot : everyone knows this, right?