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Google Introduces “Shielded Email”: An Effective Solution Against Spam and Tracking

In the digital world, protecting personal data has become a crucial issue. Google continues to implement new technologies in this field. Recently, an analysis of the Google Play Services v24.45.33 APK file by Android Authority revealed a new feature called Shielded Email, marking a significant step forward in this direction.

This innovative feature allows users to generate one-time and hidden email addresses when registering for apps and services. It provides an effective solution to prevent spam and protect personal email addresses from being exposed. While this feature is similar to Apple’s “Hide My Email” service, it is expected to be available across the entire Android ecosystem.

Shielded Email is integrated with Google’s Autofill system and introduces a new option during registration: when users click the “Use Shielded Email” button, a unique email alias (e.g., aq7z9d@shielded.google) is automatically generated.

These email addresses are managed by Google’s servers and forward messages to the user’s primary email address without revealing it directly to apps and websites.

Importantly, users can disable forwarding for any alias at any time through Gmail settings, allowing them to block all spam messages from that alias. This setting is expected to be located in the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” section of Gmail’s settings.

Shielded Email addresses two major security concerns:

1. Prevents cross-service tracking – Since a unique email alias is created for each app and website, third-party services will have a harder time tracking users’ activity across different platforms. For example, if you use separate aliases for a shopping app and a fitness service, they won’t be able to link them together.

2. Protects against data breaches – If a particular service suffers a data breach, your primary email address remains secure. You can simply deactivate that alias in Gmail settings to stop receiving emails from it.

Previously, Google allowed users to create email aliases using the “+” symbol (e.g., user+newsletter@gmail.com). However, many services have started blocking this method. Shielded Email, on the other hand, generates a unique and random alias for each registration, making it more resilient to such restrictions.

Additionally, this system eliminates the need for third-party services (such as TempMail) to create temporary email addresses.

Shielded Email is fully integrated with the Gboard keyboard and Google Autofill system, making it highly convenient for users. This feature could potentially be available to over 3 billion Android devices, unlike Apple’s “Hide My Email,” which is only offered through a paid iCloud+ subscription.

Another advantage is the potential reduction of reliance on OAuth. Currently, many apps use OAuth to access users’ Google profiles. Shielded Email provides a secure alternative for email-based registration without exposing personal information.

As of now, Google has not announced an official release date for this feature. Several questions remain unanswered:

  • Alias expiration – Will these email addresses be single-use or permanent?
  • Cross-platform support – Will this service also be available on iOS and the web version of Gmail?
  • Monetization – Will Google offer Shielded Email as a paid feature through Google One, or will it be free for all users?

Shielded Email is one of Google’s biggest innovations in email security.

If officially launched, users are advised to:

  • Use it regularly to prevent spam – Instead of using their primary email, they should register for various services with Shielded Email.
  • Monitor their aliases – If a service starts sending excessive spam, they can delete its alias in Gmail settings.
  • Use their primary email for important services – Banks, government agencies, and other critical platforms should still be accessed with a primary email.

If Google officially rolls out this feature, it could significantly enhance email privacy, reduce spam, and improve the security of digital identities.