The Savvy Technologist

Disposable email addresses

It seems like every Web site wants your email address these days. I can make up a bogus email address as easily as the next guy, but there is the rare occasion when you need to give a real address because you need to follow some super-secret hyperlink or retrieve a temporary password. The good news is that the Mailinator service has just the answer for you. From their site:

Its no signup, instant anti-spam service. Here is how it works: You are on the web, at a party, or talking to your favorite insurance salesman. Whereever you are, someone (or some webpage) asks for your email. You know if you give it, you’re gambling with your privacy. On the other hand, you do want at least one message from that person. The answer is to give them a mailinator address. You don’t need to sign-up. You just make it up on the spot.

I love the concept. You make up any email address you want @mailinator.com and check the message without dealing with any passwords or creating a specific email account. It’s a receive-only, no-delete email account that gets created on the fly when mailinator receives the message. Given the current spam problem I’ll take any help I can get.