Sometimes you need to sign up for a service that you don’t fully trust

or that you only plan to use once

It could be a demo version

a newsletter you’re curious about

or a site that asks for more personal information than you’re comfortable giving

In these situations, using a one time email address can be a smart and simple way to protect your real inbox

A temporary email is a self-deleting address with a brief lifespan

It lets you get activation codes and account confirmations

without exposing your main email to spam, data collection, or unwanted marketing

Many websites offer free one time email services that generate a random address for you

You won’t be asked for a password, name, click or phone number

Just visit the site, copy the email address they give you, paste it into the sign up form, and wait for the message to arrive

Once you’ve clicked the link or completed the action, you can ignore the address

The address vanishes without any action needed on your part

This keeps your real email clean and your privacy intact

No matter how malicious the site becomes, your real address stays untouched

You’re not sacrificing access—you’re adding a layer of anonymity

Ideal for downloading free tools you’re not committed to

or signing up for eBooks and guides

or registering for one-off discounts and coupons

A tiny habit that dramatically reduces your online exposure

Anyone with basic internet skills can do this

You can complete the process while waiting for a page to load

After a few uses, you’ll question why you ever trusted random sites with your personal address