Gmail aliases help prevent your email address from being targeted by spam or unwanted emails. They also allow you to better filter messages without having to create new email addresses.
Email is one of the oldest communication systems we have. Older, even, than the internet itself. And despite the popularity of WhatsApp or Instagram and TikTok chats , email is always better for certain types of messages. However, its popularity has a drawback. The moment it falls into the wrong hands, your inbox fills up with unwanted messages . That dreaded spam . The solution? Create Gmail aliases.
Spam , or unsolicited email, has been around for a long time. And we’re unlikely to get rid of it anytime soon. The same goes for phishing . Sending messages to dozens of addresses selling something, or worse, trying to extort, deceive, or trick strangers, is very cheap, far too easy to do, and ultimately, the cost-benefit ratio makes it one of the most common cybercrimes.
Gmail has powerful spam filters . But despite everything, the odd message always slips through. It’s inevitable. However, by using Gmail aliases when you have to provide an email address online, you can reduce the amount of unwanted email you receive. It’s a different and simple way to do it without needing to rely on artificial intelligence or complex paid tools or applications.
What is a Gmail alias?
An email alias is an additional address linked to your primary email account. You can send and receive messages using this alias as if it were an alternate email address, while keeping the same username and password. Most email services offer this feature, although it’s not widely known. So, if you use Google’s email service, you can create Gmail aliases .
In this particular case, combating spam or unwanted email can be done in many ways. You can create a new, specific email address in case you have to share your main email address on untrustworthy forms . Or, you can simply use temporary emails . These are shared, anonymous, require no registration, and are used as a temporary solution when you don’t want to provide your regular email address.
But using an alias in Gmail or another email service is different. It doesn’t involve creating new addresses. You simply add a distinguishing word or element to your main address . That way, when you receive messages to that alias, you’ll know the source of the spam .
Differences between alias and new address
If you create a new email address to combat spam, you’ll have two addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] . Each has its own username and password . To access them, you must log in to each account separately, or keep both accounts active.
In contrast, an alias is something like [email protected] or [email protected] . It looks like a new address, but it’s simply a “disguise” or “mask” for your regular email. When you receive new messages, they will all go to the same inbox , unless you set up filters to sort them upon arrival. And you can use them only to receive messages or also to send them.
Advantages and disadvantages of using a Gmail alias
The advantage of Gmail aliases , or aliases for any email service, is that they can be created in seconds and help you better organize your incoming messages, whether they’re spam or not. They also allow you to identify the sources of unwanted emails and take appropriate action. And when an alias becomes unusable due to excessive spam, you can deactivate it and keep your primary email address.
Another advantage is that, unlike creating two or more email addresses, aliases are managed from the same account , so you won’t have to keep logging in or opening new tabs in your browser.
What are the drawbacks of aliases? The main one is that, by including your email address, it’s not 100% anonymous. In other words, it works with automated systems for capturing addresses and sending spam. But if someone takes a look, they’ll see it’s an alias. Furthermore, there are ways to filter email addresses by ignoring aliases. But for now, Gmail aliases remain a valid solution for protecting yourself from spam.
How to create your own Gmail aliases
In principle, there’s a limit of 30 aliases per email address. However, you probably won’t need that many. Even if you use them to manage both personal and work emails, using too many aliases will make them harder to organize . There are two ways to create a new Gmail alias.
First method. When you need to share an email address , instead of giving out your own, for example, [email protected] , you’ll personalize it with text preceded by the + symbol. Some examples: [email protected] , [email protected] , or [email protected] . You don’t need to do anything else . When someone writes to that address, you’ll receive the message in your inbox . But you’ll see that it was sent to your Gmail alias. If you start receiving a lot of messages, you can create Gmail filters to archive them or send them to a specific folder.
Second method. If you’re going to use one or more Gmail aliases to send and receive messages , this method will be more useful. Open Gmail in desktop mode using a web browser. Then, click or tap the gear icon and, once you’re in ” See all settings ,” go to “Accounts ” or “Accounts and Import .” Find and click the ” Add another email address ” link. Create a Gmail alias, as described earlier. By default, the “Treat this as an alias ” field will be checked . Then click ” Next step .” You’ll see the new address appear.
Once you’ve set up one or more Gmail aliases, you’ll see that in the message composer, in the “From” field , you can choose between your primary address or one of the aliases. As you’ll see, aliases are useful for receiving messages and combating spam. But they’re also useful for sending messages to specific addresses.
