Google is working on developing a new service called “Shielded Email” which aims to allow users to create fictitious email addresses for the purposes of registering for various websites and services, according to recent reports. The service, reminiscent of Apple’s “Hide My Email” feature, is designed to maintain users’ privacy and protect them from being flooded with spam.
The new service is expected to allow users to create random email addresses that will be used for basic communication without revealing their personal email address. Using Shielded Email, the emails sent to the fictitious address will be transferred to the user’s main mailbox, from which it will also be possible to reply to messages. Another feature is the ability to detect if a generated email address has been sold to third parties, which can help track spam sources and maintain privacy.
The first report of the service appeared on the Android Authority website, which noted that an option called Shielded Email was discovered in the “Autofill” settings menu in Google accounts. Currently, selecting the option redirects users to a blank Google account page, but a code analysis of the latest Google Play Services update reveals that the new service includes features to automatically create fictitious emails and use them securely.
The service is reminiscent of the solution created by Apple with the Hide My Email feature, available to paid iCloud+ subscribers. Apple allows its users to create random email addresses in website registrations and thus maintains their privacy. Google, for its part, has not yet revealed whether Shielded Email will be a free service as part of a regular Google account or will be included within its premium service, Google One.
It seems that Shielded Email can be a significant addition to Google services, especially in an era where online privacy has become a major challenge. The service, if launched, may be a direct competition to Apple and strengthen Google’s position in the field of online privacy and security.