We have all seen the promises: we will respect your privacy...we will never give out your email address. Yet somehow my mailbox is crammed with offers for pirated software, masculinity enhancing creams and and low, low priced prescription medicine each and every day. So I have come to the inescapable conclusion that someone is handing out email address. The question then, of course, is who?
Gmail has a great feature which allows you to append a distinctive word or phrase onto your address so you can determine who the culprits are.
It works like this:
1. I buy a new pair of cowboy boots from billybobswesternshop.com.
2. Instead of using the.swo.ter@gmail.com, I use the.swo.ter+billybob@gmail.com (which, incidentally still goes to my regular inbox.)
Now, each time I get a Viagra offer email sent to my address with the appended +billybob, I will know who is selling my personal info.
Don't forget to leave a comment if you found this handy or if you found it worthless. the.SWO.ter wants to know!
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