TL;DR
It’s very difficult to send an email completely anonymously. This guide shows you how to make it much harder for people to track your emails, covering things like using aliases, privacy-focused providers, and disabling tracking pixels.
Understanding Email Tracking
Emails are tracked in several ways:
- IP Address: Your email provider’s IP address is visible to the recipient’s server.
- Tracking Pixels: Tiny, invisible images embedded in emails that tell senders when you open them and sometimes where you are.
- Email Headers: Contain routing information which can reveal your origin.
- Unique Identifiers: Some providers add unique identifiers to messages.
Completely preventing tracking is almost impossible, but these steps significantly reduce it.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Choose a Privacy-Focused Email Provider
Some providers are more privacy-conscious than others. Consider:
- ProtonMail: End-to-end encrypted, based in Switzerland.
- Tutanota: Similar to ProtonMail, also end-to-end encrypted and German-based.
- Disroot: A cooperative email provider focused on privacy.
Avoid free services like Gmail or Yahoo Mail if privacy is a major concern.
2. Use Email Aliases
An alias creates a different email address that forwards to your main account. This hides your primary email from recipients.
- SimpleLogin: A popular alias service.
- AnonAddy: Another good option for creating aliases.
Each time you need to give an email address, use a different alias. If that alias is compromised, your main account remains safe.
3. Disable Remote Image Loading
This prevents tracking pixels from being loaded when you open emails.
- Gmail: Settings > General > Images: “Ask before displaying external images”.
- Outlook: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Automatic Download: Uncheck “Automatically download pictures in HTML e-mail messages that originate from Internet sources”.
Always be cautious when enabling images, even if you trust the sender.
4. Use a VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) masks your IP address, making it harder to trace your location.
- NordVPN: A well-known and reliable VPN provider.
- ExpressVPN: Another popular choice with good security features.
Connect to a VPN server before sending or receiving emails.
5. Be Careful About Links
Links in emails can reveal your IP address when clicked.
- Use Link Tracking Protection: Some browser extensions block link tracking.
- Copy and Paste URLs: Instead of clicking, copy the URL and paste it into your browser.
6. Review Email Headers (Advanced)
Email headers contain technical information about the message’s journey.
- Gmail: Open the email > More options (three dots) > Show original.
- Outlook: Double-click to open in a new window > File > Info > Properties > Internet headers.
Look for “Received:” lines, which show the servers the email passed through. This can help identify potential tracking points.
7. Consider End-to-End Encryption
Services like ProtonMail and Tutanota offer end-to-end encryption, meaning only you and the recipient can read the message content.
Ensure both sender and receiver use the same encrypted service for maximum security.8. Use a Temporary/Disposable Email Address
For one-time registrations or situations where you don’t want to share your real email, use a temporary address.
- Temp Mail: https://temp-mail.org/
- 10 Minute Mail: https://10minutemail.com/