Want to fool scammers? Use your UNLIMITED Gmail addresses

Lifehacker

10 Jan 202301:21

Summary

TLDRIn this Lifehacker video, Jake introduces a clever trick called 'plus addressing' to manage multiple email addresses from a single Gmail account. By adding a '+' followed by any word or phrase after the local part of the email address, users can create infinite aliases that forward to their primary inbox. This method can be used to track data sharing by companies, identify scammers, and exploit free trials indefinitely. The video offers a simple yet effective way to enhance email management and privacy.

Takeaways

📧 Utilize 'plus addressing' to create infinite Gmail addresses by adding a plus sign and custom text after your username but before the '@' symbol.
🔍 Plus addressing can help identify data breaches by directing emails from different services to unique addresses.
🚫 If you start receiving spam on a specific plus-addressed email, it can indicate that the associated service is sharing your data.
💡 Use plus addressing to filter and organize emails by tagging them with the company name, like '[email protected]' for Facebook.
🔄 Plus addressing allows you to create distinct email addresses for each service or purpose without needing to set up new accounts.
🎯 It's a simple way to manage multiple email subscriptions and keep your primary inbox clutter-free.
🛡️ Plus addressing can act as a privacy tool, helping to protect your main email address from spam and unwanted contacts.
🔑 You can also use periods within your email username to create a similar effect, such as '[email protected]'.
🆓 Plus addressing can be used to get free trials from services that require a new email address for sign-up.
🚫 Netflix's potential restrictions on password sharing won't affect your ability to create infinite email addresses for sign-ups.
👀 Stay tuned to Lifehacker for more tips on optimizing your digital life and protecting your privacy.

Q & A

What is the main topic discussed in the video script?
-The main topic discussed in the video script is how to use 'plus addressing' to create infinite Gmail addresses.
What is the purpose of using plus addressing with Gmail?
-The purpose of using plus addressing with Gmail is to create unique email addresses for different services, which can help in identifying data sharing practices and also in getting free trials from services that require a new email address.
How does plus addressing work with Gmail?
-Plus addressing works by adding a plus sign and any additional text after the local part of the email address and before the '@' symbol, such as '[email protected]' or '[email protected]'.
Why would someone use plus addressing to fool scammers?
-Using plus addressing to fool scammers involves creating a unique email address for each service, which can help in tracking if the service is involved in data selling or if the user is receiving spam.
Can you use periods in the local part of the email address like with plus addressing?
-Yes, periods can be used in the local part of the email address, such as '[email protected]', and it will work just as well as plus addressing.
How can plus addressing be used to identify if a service is selling your data?
-By creating a unique plus addressed email for a service, if you start receiving spam at that address, it can indicate that the service may be selling your data.
What is the benefit of using plus addressing for free trials?
-Using plus addressing for free trials allows you to sign up for multiple trials without needing multiple email accounts, as each plus addressed email is treated as a new address by the service.
Is there a limit to the number of plus addressed emails you can create with one Gmail account?
-No, there is no limit to the number of plus addressed emails you can create with one Gmail account, making it an 'infinite' solution.
Can plus addressed emails be used for any service or only specific ones?
-Plus addressed emails can be used for any service that accepts email addresses for registration or communication, as they are treated as unique addresses.
What is the potential downside of using plus addressed emails for free trials?
-A potential downside of using plus addressed emails for free trials is that it may become difficult to manage and keep track of all the different email addresses and associated services.
How does the plus addressing feature help in managing email subscriptions and services?
-Plus addressing helps in managing email subscriptions and services by allowing users to categorize and filter emails based on the unique plus addressed identifiers, making it easier to manage and unsubscribe if needed.

Outlines

00:00

📧 Mastering Plus Addressing for Infinite Gmail Accounts

In this paragraph, Jake from Lifehacker introduces a clever technique called 'plus addressing' that allows a single Gmail account to function as if it had infinite addresses. By adding a '+' sign followed by any desired label after the local part of the email address, users can create unique addresses that forward to their primary inbox. This method can be used to manage spam, track data sharing by companies, and exploit free trial offers from services that require a new email for sign-up. Jake illustrates this with examples like '[email protected]' and '[email protected]', and also mentions the use of periods within the address to further customize it, such as '[email protected]'.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Gmail

Gmail is a free email service provided by Google. It is widely used for personal and professional communication. In the context of the video, Gmail is the platform that allows for the creation of infinite email addresses through a feature called 'plus addressing', which is the main theme of the video.

💡Plus Addressing

Plus addressing is a Gmail feature that allows users to create an infinite number of email addresses by simply adding a '+' followed by any word or phrase before the '@' symbol in their email address. This is a key concept in the video, as it is the method by which users can generate multiple email addresses for different purposes.

💡Scammers

Scammers are individuals or entities that attempt to deceive others for personal gain or malicious purposes. In the video, the use of plus addressing is suggested as a way to protect one's primary email address from scammers by using different addresses for various online services.

💡Netflix

Netflix is a streaming service that offers a wide variety of TV shows, movies, and documentaries. The video mentions Netflix as an example of a service where users might want to use a plus address to sign up for a free trial without using their primary email address.

💡Free Trials

Free trials are promotional offers by companies that allow users to try their products or services for a limited time without cost. The video suggests using plus addressing to sign up for free trials, thus allowing users to take advantage of these offers without committing to a service long-term.

💡Data Privacy

Data privacy refers to the protection of personal information from unauthorized access or misuse. The video implies that by using plus addresses, users can better control their data privacy by not revealing their primary email address to various companies, which could potentially sell or misuse their data.

💡Infinite Addresses

The concept of 'infinite addresses' in the video refers to the ability to create an unlimited number of email addresses using the plus addressing feature in Gmail. This allows users to have a unique email address for each service or purpose, without any additional cost or effort.

💡Local Part

In email addressing, the local part is the section of the email address before the '@' symbol. In the context of the video, modifying the local part by adding a '+' and additional text allows for the creation of unique email addresses for different uses.

💡Lifehacker

Lifehacker is a website that provides tips and advice on technology, productivity, and life skills. In the video, the host Jake introduces himself as being from Lifehacker, indicating that the video is part of a series of helpful guides or tips.

💡Spam

Spam refers to unsolicited emails, often of a commercial nature, that are sent in bulk. The video suggests using plus addressing to identify which services might be sending spam to a specific email address, by observing if spam is received at an address created for a particular service.

💡Period

In the context of the video, a period ('.') is used as a substitute for spaces in email addresses to create a unique identifier. This is an alternative method to plus addressing and is mentioned as a way to further customize and organize email addresses.

Highlights

You can create infinite Gmail addresses using a single account.

This is achieved through a method called plus addressing.

Type a plus sign after the local part of your email before the '@' sign.

You can add any text after the plus sign to create a unique address.

Services will treat the plus addressed email as a new address.

Emails sent to the plus addressed email will forward to your original inbox.

Use plus addressing to identify data selling by tagging emails with company names.

For example, use '[email protected]' when signing up for Facebook.

If spam is sent to the plus addressed email, it indicates data selling.

Plus addressing can also be used with periods between words.

This method works for free trial sign-ups, potentially extending trial periods.

Netflix may restrict password sharing, but cannot limit the creation of new emails.

The technique is a way to maintain privacy and control over personal data.

It provides a means to test services without revealing your primary email address.

Plus addressing is a simple yet effective strategy for managing multiple online accounts.

It can be used to filter and organize emails from different services.

This method is highlighted by Lifehacker as a useful tip for managing emails.

Stay tuned to Lifehacker for more tips on improving digital life.