Email

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Email

Don't Use Your Primary Email Address to Sign Up for Anything

By Heinz Tschabitscher, About.com

Many web sites require you to sign up to access their services. Often, you need to provide a valid email address (to which your password will be sent, for example) during the sign-up process.

There's nothing wrong with that. But you never know what will happen to the email address you give to the site.

  • Hackers may break into the network and steal the email address,
  • it may leak to the web due to some mishap, or
  • it might even get sold to spammers.

Don't Use Your Primary Email Address to Sign Up for Anything

This is why it's a good idea

  • not to use your primary email address when you sign up at a web site.

Use

Does Heinz Follow his Advice?

I don't, and I don't have a huge spam problem at my primary private email address.

If you want to have an email address that gets very little junk mail and that friends and other select contacts can safely use, guarding it is a good strategy. Paranoia and mistrust are out of place, though.

More Email Quick Tips

Explore Email

About.com Special Features

Build Your Own Website

Step-by-step advice on how to do everything from choosing a Web host to promoting your content. More >

Connect Your Home Computers

Easy ways to connect two computers for networking purposes. More >

Email

  1. Home
  2. Computing & Technology
  3. Email
  4. Spam Stoppers
  5. Spam Fighting Tips
  6. Don't Use Your Primary Email Address to Sign Up for Anything - About Email

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.