Imagine you had the power to write anything, yes, anything while protecting your identity.
From telling the truth about how crap your boss is, sending secret information, and yet, you don’t want people to know it was from you.
Simply put, the power of invisibility and the power of anonymity!
It seems hard and impossible, right?
Well, it is not.
Get On The Moving Train
Well, news flash! You could not be more wrong. Technology is as advanced as the time when impossibility was a word. Now, possibilities are the main trend.
Your identity is so precious, and you cannot afford to let it be trampled on. The rate at which people get dissed for something they sent, or, wrote, online is alarming. Some people get laid off from work, simply because they sent a mail to their boss. Others just spoke the truth.
In spite of the freedom of speech and freedom of opinion, blah blah. The fact is, most times, people will throw stones at you for your opinions.
Communicating through emails is gradually phasing out phone calls and others. For instance, some countries enacted the whistle-blower policy. They are giving money to whoever reveals an illegal operation or corruption, in ‘high places.’ It will be quite dangerous to send this kind of information with your details and identity in the open.
An anonymous mail makes it possible to stay hidden, a cloaked hero.
What is an Anonymous Email?
In simpler terms, an anonymous email is a mail that hides the sender’s identity. An anonymous email employs all the technologies needed to make the mail you send, untraceable to you.
The approaches and methods of sending anonymous emails differ. For simplicity, we classify these methods and approaches into two. These methods are; the hard and long methods. And, the short and straightforward method.
The Hard and Long Method
This method is classified as hard and long because it takes time and, it involves making a long way.
Firstly, this approach is about opening a fake mail with false details. As you will expect, it is anonymous, if done correctly. If not, your IP address can be traced back. It is also not as private or secure as you will think.
This step is cheap, but not a number one choice. The steps in creating an anonymous mail using this method are;
- Get a new phone number, which you will use to authenticate the account.
- Get a fake name and fake information. Try not to use the one everyone knows about.
- Open a new email account. (G-mail, Hotmail, Yahoo, anyone works)
- Use a different browser; the incognito mode is preferable.
- Send your mail.
As said earlier, this approach does not confer true and complete anonymity. If the person you sent the mail to has the resources, the mail can be traced back. There goes your superpower, with just a little kryptonite! In these scenarios, your kryptonite is too cheap.
The Simple and Short Method
Now, this is the real deal. When it comes to remaining truly anonymous, this approach is your best and safest bet.
This method involves the use of anonymous mail services. There a lot of them, some good, others great. The ideas behind these services include;
- Encryption
- Automatic deletion of mail from a server
- Blocked IP address
- Password Protection of your anonymous mail
- Minimal Personal Information
- Privacy! (Now, this is the main idea and logic)
Depending on the service provider, these apps come with different unique features, tools, and guides. All of which will be explained in detail, soon enough.
In addition to anonymous email service providers, you can also employ the use of a VPN. The virtual private network (VPN), was developed for this kind of stuff. The VPN keeps your IP address hidden, and your identity, safe.
How to use VPN will also be discussed in detail.
Why the Anonymity?
Who can be anonymous online?
Anybody can choose to hide/ protect their identity. Most people send anonymous emails for different reasons. For journalists and their sources, the need for anonymity is not far-fetched. A cyber-criminal can also use anonymous mail to perpetuate his dubious acts.
In essence, different people, from various works of life, can use anonymous mail.
Other uses are;
- Reporting a crime, or, fraud
- Reporting your boss to their bosses
- Telling on a co-worker
- Professing your feelings
- Sending Secret and Private information
- Telling the truth in a difficult situation
- Any other thing you can think of
Note, sending anonymous emails are different than encrypted emails.
How to Disappear
There are many anonymous email service providers. Listed below are some very good ones.
Proton Mail
Proton Mail employs end-to-end encryption software. Making your emails entirely inaccessible for third parties.
They do not require your personal information to create secure and anonymous mail for you. Also, they do not keep IP logs, so, no tracing the mail back to you.
The good thing about ProtonMail is that its code is open source and available to all. It is completely free.
How to use ProtonMail
- Log on to ProtonMail
- Choose the account type you want. While ProtonMail is free, they also have priced options.
- Create your account
- Complete your account setup
- Upgrade your account, if you want.
- Enjoy the great features.
Mailfence
With Mailfence, you enjoy great security features. There is no spam, no tracking, plus it is free from the government’s watchful eyes. They also offer an OpenPGP keys feature. Allowing you to create, import, publish, and manage these keys.
How to use Mailfence
- Log on to Mailfence
- Select a plan. Each plan has a great feature.
- Fill the application
- Follow the instructions
- Start using and enjoying their service.
Cyber Atlantis
This is a free anonymous mail service provider. You do not need to register on the site. Just the recipient mail address. Also, the subject of the mail, the PGP public key, and your message.
However, the recipient can block fire emails from being sent to their mail address.
Cyber Atlantis allows you to send anonymous emails, as long as it is not abusive or illegal.
PrivateMail
PrivateMail free plan offers a monthly 100MB storage with a VPN service. They also use encryption software to help keep your data private and secure.
They are providing beautiful features to satisfy any email power. Also, your information is not required to register with them.
So you are 100 percent anonymous.
Anonymous Email
Send emails without registration through Anonymous Email.
The free version includes their brand name in the emails. However, you have an option to remove that by subscribing the premium plan. The paid plan also lets you enter from the name, from email and email notification on delivery.
Ptorx
Are you worried about using your real email address while sending a message to someone?
Worry no more!
Use Ptorx and keep sending and receiving emails anonymously.
It lets you create unique aliases for your email, which is linked directly to your actual mails. Ptorx is available free on all platforms, including Android, iPad or iPhone, web, and Chrome and Firefox extensions.
In case a website you use gets compromised, then delete, disable, or regenerate your alias linked to that site to avoid security breaches.
How to use Ptorx:
- Create a site-specific or a contact alias through Ptorx
- Whatever mail is sent to this alias gets forwarded to the inbox of your preference.
- Reply to this mail, and it will have the sender name as your alias.
You can also use your domain as many you want. Just configure DNS records and then create aliases along with forwarding mail addresses for your domain.
Use Ptorx for free for a maximum of 200 credits/month.
AnonAddy
Create unlimited aliases and remain invisible using AnonAddy.
You can generate aliases with simple clicks directly from the browser through its extension available for Chrome, Firefox, and other chromium-based browsers like Vivaldi and Brave. Bring your OpenPGP or GPG public keys, plus add them to each recipient.
Toggle encryption on/off easily. If you turn it on, all the forwarded message gets encrypted through the public key, and only you could decrypt them with the corresponding key. It’s a great feature if you use Outlook or Gmail and never want inbox snooping, which is obvious!
AnonAddy lets you add your custom domains and use it as your subdomain alias. You can even enable/disable the functionality – ‘Catch-all’ for your domains. This way, you can manage the aliases or delete/deactivate any of them if you find it catching spam.
If you don’t like your aliases having your username, you can create unique ones from the dashboard. It prevents people from linking the alias with you, which might blow your anonymity.
AnonAddy also lets you add multiple recipients on each alias. To help you manage your domains, aliases, usernames, and recipients, use AnonAddy API by generating an access token from the account settings.
The pricing plans of AnonAddy start from a free plan that gives you unlimited aliases, 20 aliases for a shared domain, 2 recipients, and 10 MB bandwidth. Upgrade it by paying just $1 or $3 to get so many extended benefits.
SimpleLogin
Safeguard your privacy and protect your email address against phishing and spams using email aliases by SimpleLogin, instead of your real email address. It lets you generate aliases on the go that you can use to create an online account or sign-up for newsletters.
In case you start receiving too many spams, you can block the alias immediately at any time. Even businesses are also using email aliases these days to remain safe from attacks. SimpleLogin is an advanced solution and is 100% open-source.
You can use it on your Android or iOS devices or use their Safari, Firefox, or Chrome extensions. SimpleLogin lets you use your custom domain, which eliminates the need to buy another email hosting.
You get catch-all aliases and create a username directory to use it quickly. In case you use various mailboxes, you can easily add them to SimpleLogin. This way, you can choose which mailbox to use while creating your alias.
For privacy, SimpleLogin lets you leverage technologies like PGP and OpenPGP so that you can encrypt your emails. Secure your account using 2FA with WebAuthn or TOTP.
The free plan lets you generate 15 aliases, 1 mailbox, unlimited bandwidth, etc. Its paid plan starts at $15 for the 1st year and then $30/year for unlimited aliases, custom domains, and mailboxes, along with 50 usernames.
Guerrilla Mail
An open-source project, Guerrilla Mail gives you an anonymous email inbox that deletes its contents every hour. You can use this free email service without providing an ounce of personally identifiable information.
Interestingly, an email ID once created, lasts forever. And you can check the inbox anytime for the last 60-minute deliveries.
Guerrilla Mail also gives you a muddled version of your email ID to keep the original ID a secret, as anyone can check the associated inbox with just the ID.
For instance, for an email ID google, the scrambled version was qe8cwg+3rmnbtilk. You can also click Forget Me to delete the associated account.
In addition, there are multiple domains (@domain.com) to pick from.
Finally, this is an excellent anonymous email service for the internet signups needing emails or to send whistleblowing emails.
Tutanota
Tutanota is a made-in-Germany solution for an anonymous email service. This is more like a conventional mailbox having a limited-powered free tier for personal use and paid-only business accounts.
Tutanota emails are end-to-end encrypted. Even there is no way to restore an account with a lost password.
There are open-source, native applications for Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, and Mac. Besides, one can also use Tutanota with any browser using its web interface.
This mail service also permits sending password-protected mail to recipients on mail channels like Gmail.
Its paid plans start with as little as 1 euro a month and offer multiple calendars, aliases, use of a custom domain, etc.
StartMail
StartMail is a premium, end-to-end encrypted email service assuring anonymity. All plans come with unlimited aliases, no advertising and tracking, and the ability to send password-enabled emails to external mailboxes.
One can access StartMail on most modern web browsers or with the email clients like Outlook, Thunderbird, Apple mail, etc.
This mail service supports using a custom domain, paying with Bitcoin, and has private spam filters. Besides, it hides your IP address while sending and receiving mail as an added anti-tracking measure.
Additionally, you’ll be shown full addresses for all external links to protect against phishing. Finally, StartMail is not hosting its servers on any third-party cloud but self-hosting to ensure maximum privacy for its users.
Alternate Solution – Use VPN
You can also make use of a VPN to protect your identity online. Also, it can be used to send anonymous emails. The trick behind using VPN is not to subscribe to a free VPN service. Most times, a free VPN service tends to sell user data to third parties.
With the ability to vanish your IP address, VPN gives you invisibility, not only when sending emails, but also when browsing online.
Below are some of the trusted VPN service providers:
- NordVPN
- Ivacy
- Hotspot Shield
Don’t Forget This
Sending anonymous emails allows you to keep your identity hidden. It is essential not to use this guide for any illegal activities.
FAQs
How do I make a fake untraceable email? ›
You can send anonymous emails by creating an encrypted email account with an anonymity-focused provider. Email service providers like ProtonMail, Tutanota, and Mailfence don't track you and encrypt your emails.
Can my fake email be traced? ›You can easily create an anonymous Gmail account by providing fake information when signing up. But this anonymous Gmail can still be traced back to you using contact details used to set up the account, your browser fingerprint, or your real IP address, which could reveal your physical location.
What is a good anonymous email address? ›The most anonymous email accounts:
ProtonMail – the best secure email provider. StartMail – the best easy-to-use email provider. Tutanota – the most anonymous email provider.
Yes. They would get a search warrant for Google or whatever emailing service you used. Your ISP (internet service provider) and have access through your ISP and your Internet Protocol (your IP that is leased from the service provider) and will be able to track everything.
How to create fake email id without phone number? ›- gmail.com.
- Click “Create account“
- Follow steps (and skip phone number)
- Then, agree to Google's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
What is a Ghost Email? Emails that are deleted from the profile but are actually present in the email server are Ghost Emails. Such mails appear due to a sudden power failure or malware issue.
Can police track deleted email account? ›It is best to assume that even though a Gmail account has been deleted, there is still a chance that the police will be able to obtain it through a request to Google, who will then have to retrieve that information from their servers and present it to the police.
Can a person be tracked by their email address? ›Anyone can sneak a tracker into your email; services that do this are plentiful and free. If you're the kind of person who turns off read receipts on texts and DMs, this is probably not good news to read.
Can you find someone's IP address from their email? ›When you want to find someone's IP address, an email from them is one of the best places to check. IP address information can be found using a function embedded in most email programs. This method varies depending on the type of email service or program you're using.
Can you truly be anonymous online? ›It is possible to be anonymous on the internet. However, you have to use a secure browser, search engine, email account, and cloud storage. You'll also need to connect to a VPN, disable cookies, and change other settings, so while online anonymity is possible, it's a bit labor-intensive to set up initially.
What is the most private email? ›
- ProtonMail. ProtonMail is the most well-known secure email provider. ...
- Mailbox.org. Mailbox.org is a secure email service aimed at business users looking for an alternative to Google or Microsoft tools. ...
- HubSpot. ...
- Zoho Mail. ...
- Tutanota. ...
- Posteo. ...
- Thexyz. ...
- PrivateMail.
1. ProtonMail - best ratio between price and privacy. Started in 2013 by CERN scientists in privacy-friendly Switzerland, ProtonMail became arguably the most popular and the best secure email provider. This open-source service has a strict no-logs policy and uses end-to-end encryption.
Can an email sent from a cell phone be traced? ›A: You can't trace an email or its IP to a person. Using an IP geolocation tool, which we can use to track the IP address, you can only see the location of the server the IP is on.
Can ProtonMail be traced? ›If you send an email from ProtonMail to a Gmail account, for example, the email will be encrypted until it reaches Gmail's servers, where it will be stored in an unencrypted format as per Gmail's standards. At this point, all your details are visible and can be used to trace you.
Which email does not require phone number? ›Protonmail – Secure Email Address Without a Phone
ProtonMail is another security-focused provider with a good reputation that allows you to create an email account without a phone number.
Put simply, an anonymous email is one that hides the sender's identity and doesn't contain any personally identifiable information. An anonymous email can't be traced back to you. Anonymous email services encrypt your messages, so, even if they were intercepted in transit, nobody could see their contents.
What is a shadow email? ›Anatomy of a shadow email sender
The emails look like they're coming from your company, but they are actually being sent by the cloud service's servers.
How do dummy emails work? The concept of temporary email accounts is simple. You create them with one of the dedicated services or by setting things up on your own. You get a unique email address that can receive (and sometimes also send) emails and can be used for any purpose.
What is a blind email? ›If you add a recipient's name to the Bcc (blind carbon copy) box in an email message, a copy of the message is sent to that recipient, but that name is not visible to other recipients of the message.
Can police trace where an email came from? ›Second, most emails show the account information of the sender in the “From:” field of the email header. While this information can be faked, it often provides law enforcement a credible investigative lead. If you recognize the sender address, make note of it for the law enforcement officer.
How long does it take for a Gmail account to be permanently deleted? ›
Complete deletion of data from our servers is equally important for users' peace of mind. This process generally takes around 2 months from the time of deletion. This often includes up to a month-long recovery period in case the data was removed unintentionally.
Can police track your Google Account? ›It says they need a search warrant — which means they'd first have to show a judge "probable cause" of a crime. Police face less of a challenge, though, to find out who owns a particular Gmail address. All that takes is a subpoena — no probable cause required, and — often — no judge.
Can you track someone by their phone number? ›You no longer have to approach a mobile network provider to track someone. Instead, you can track a cell phone location by its number with the help of a cell phone tracking application.
How do I find the exact location of an IP address? ›If you want know how to find your IP address, visit the WhatIsMyIP.com home page to see your IP address as it is listed. This is your public IP; it will also tell you what your IP location is and who your ISP is.
Can someone look me up by my IP address? ›Your IP address gives websites, and people that you have connected with online, more than just a number—more than your IP address. It also gives them the ability to trace that IP address back towards you if they wanted to. To be clear, they can trace it back to your geographical location.
How do I find the IP address of an anonymous email? ›- Open the email you want to check.
- The same way that we used above, open the “More” menu in the top-right.
- Again, click “Show Original” to open a new window titled “Original Message”. This will show you the email header in its full glory.
- Look for the lines labeled “Received:”. Next to them will be the IP address.
You can pair private browsing with a VPN for improved anonymity and privacy. The VPN will prevent your activities from being tracked and recorded by your ISP and other third parties. However, Tor browser is still recommended for maximum anonymity.
Does a VPN hide my identity? ›A VPN can hide your online identity by masking your IP address. It encrypts your location and the data you send and receive, helping protect your personal identifiable information (PII). This data can come in the form of your bank information, as well as Social Security and driver's license numbers.
How can I search the internet without being tracked? ›To browse the web privately, you can use private browsing, sign out of your account, change your custom results settings, or delete past activity. If you want to search the web without saving your search activity to your account, you can use private browsing mode in a browser (like Chrome or Safari).
How much does ProtonMail cost? ›We recommend that you start out with the free edition, to see how it suits you. If you like it fine but run up against its limitations, or if you want those premium-only features, you pay $5 per month, or $48 per year. Some competing products cost more.
What is safer than Gmail? ›
- Zoho Mail for desktop and mobile business use.
- iCloud for a seamless Apple experience.
- Tutanota for secure email hosting and message encryption.
- Posteo for online anonimity.
- StartMail for unlimited disposable email addresses.
- Runbox for supporting sustainable business practices.
According to Statista, Gmail is the most popular email client in today's world, with more than 1.5 billion active users globally. If you're going to focus on designing your emails for one email provider, Gmail is a good place to start.
Is ProtonMail safer than Gmail? ›Generally speaking, ProtonMail is more secure, while Gmail is more flexible. As we'll see in our quick comparison, Gmail's flexibility makes it a great choice for using other Google services (such as Docs). Similarly, ProtonMail's security is invaluable when sending sensitive data.