GOOGLE is set to shake-up Gmail with a handy new tool to avoid most unwanted emails once and for all.
Apps all too often require an email address to sign up these days – and with unknown brands there is no telling what they might do with that information.
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The most annoying scenario we’re all too familiar with is spam.
Despite better tech to filter spam straight into the junk box, some still manage to slip through the net.
But what if you could use an alias email?
Some people have gone to the effort of creating a separate email address for this very purpose.
Now it seems Google is working on a new way to instantly create one with your existing account.
Apple’s iCloud mail has actually had this feature for some time now.
Google’s effort is called Shielded Email, according to early screenshots.
Shielded Email will hide your main email address from apps requesting it.
When activated, this creates a single use or limited use email alias that will forward messages to your primary account.
Then, if spam ever becomes an issue from the alias email all you have to do is switch off forwarding and unwanted emails will no longer bother you.
The feature hasn’t officially launched yet.
Android Authority took a dive into the app’s code and found that Shielded Email is in development.
There’s no word on when it will be widely available to use but hopefully sooner rather than later so users can finally take a stand against excessive emails.
How to protect yourself from scams
BY keeping these tips in mind, you can avoid getting caught up in a scam:
- Firstly, remember that if something seems too good to be true, it normally is.
- Check brands are “verified” on Facebook and Twitter pages – this means the company will have a blue tick on its profile.
- Look for grammatical and spelling errors; fraudsters are notoriously bad at writing proper English. If you receive a message from a “friend” informing you of a freebie, consider whether it’s written in your friend’s normal style.
- If you’re invited to click on a URL, hover over the link to see the address it will take you to – does it look genuine?
- To be on the really safe side, don’t click on unsolicited links in messages, even if they appear to come from a trusted contact.
- Be careful when opening email attachments too. Fraudsters are increasingly attaching files, usually PDFs or spreadsheets, which contain dangerous malware.
- If you receive a suspicious message then report it to the company, block the sender and delete it.
- If you think you’ve fallen for a scam, report it to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or use its online fraud reporting tool.
