Using an alias may sound shady, but when your inbox is deluged by mail from sites that you've had to provide an e-mail address to get the information you really wanted, creating a dummy e-mail can be useful.
You know the drill. You see an interesting report, need a "free" insurance quote or want to order a pizza online. While you won't pay outright, many sites ask for your e-mail address in exchange for information or services. And then the mail starts coming in, cluttering your inbox with follow-up offers. Technically, this mail is not spam -- you gave permission to the sender -- but it may be just as unwanted as spam.
Creating an alias e-mail account is the answer, but until recently the process could be cumbersome or pose a security threat.
Hotmail and Gmail allow users to add a "+" sign and a word on the beginning of their e-mail addresses to create a new account. For instance, if my e-mail address were askleslie@hotmail.com, to create an alias for online shopping where future deals could be stored, I would simply use askleslie+shopping@hotmail.com. E-mail sent to this alias would be delivered to my inbox or to a particular folder.
However, the "+" system makes it easy for cyber-thieves or spammers to determine real addresses, and in some cases it may be preferable to set up a completely different e-mail address. While there are a number of free online services that allow people to set up temporary accounts, users access these accounts outside of their regular e-mail accounts, which can prove less convenient.
Problem solved. Microsoft has added an e-mail alias function to Hotmail where users can create completely different addresses within their Hotmail account. The account can be deleted at any time.
Here's when
Whenever you request quotes, download white papers or shop on sites that require an e-mail address, consider using an alias. If you are not familiar with a site or are uncertain about its operations, always use an alias e-mail as a protective layer between a site and your identity.
Aside from protection, using alias e-mails may be useful in organizing online interactions. For instance, if you're looking for a job, you may want to use an alternate address to keep this communication separate and more noticeable in your inbox.
Here's how
Sign in to your Hotmail account. Go to your inbox. In the upper left-hand corner is the heading "Inbox" with a number indicating the number of new e-mails currently in your box. Move your cursor over the blue shaded box and a gear icon will appear. Click on it to see a dropdown menu that includes "Create a Hotmail alias."
Type in the e-mail address for your alias. The extension "@hotmail.com" is the default; use the dropdown menu to select "@live.com" if you prefer. Next you may choose to have any incoming mail to the new alias address put in a folder by the same name or an existing folder in your primary inbox. You will receive a confirmation message from the Hotmail Team. Note you may also send e-mail from the alias, but you cannot sign in to Hotmail with it.
Hotmail users can add up to five aliases per year with a 15-alias maximum.
Single-use password
Hotmail also offers one-time passwords for use on public computers. Instead of using your regular password, which could be stolen on a public machine via keylogging software, you can request that a temporary password be sent in a text message to your mobile phone.
Say you're on a computer at the public library. Go to the sign-in page for Hotmail and select "sign in with a different Windows Live ID." Click on the link "get a single use code to sign in with." Here you will put in your cell phone number. Note, this number must match the phone number listed in your account information, so plan ahead and make sure you have added the number before you leave home.
To add a cell phone number, go to your Account Overview page and select "Add" Mobile Phone Number under the password reset section. The phone number will only be used for security purposes; it will not be shared as a part of your profile.
While you're on your account page, make sure you've added an alternate e-mail, so that in the event your account is compromised, there is an account for communicating with Hotmail support. You will receive an e-mail in this alternate account confirming your mobile phone number. You must click the link in the e-mail to confirm that you've made this addition before it can be used to obtain a single-use code.
Ogden-based TopTenREVIEWS.com guides consumers by comparing products in the world of technology, including electronics, software and Web services. Have a question for TopTenREVIEWS? E-mail Leslie Meredith at lesliemeredith@technewsdaily.com.
Comments