Microsoft has introduced a new way to create and manage throwaway email addresses in its Hotmail product. More than ever, people are using multiple email accounts, with different email addresses for personal use, business use, e-shopping, news, etc. According to CNet, the new Hotmail feature will help make managing it all a bit easier:
Hotmail is getting a new feature aimed at “e-mail enthusiasts,” which lets anyone create multiple e-mail accounts that can be read, replied to, and managed from their everyday e-mail inbox. These additional e-mail addresses can be had in the same manner as signing up for new accounts, but they require no extra log-ins or upkeep.
The idea is to give users a safe way to provide third parties with an e-mail address, without giving up the address they’ve provided to family and friends, which, if compromised, can end the usefulness of that particular account.
While I totally see how useful this feature is, I also see how it can be used for naughty activity. Hotmail users can make a “temporary” email addresses for pr0n, leaving nasty blog comments, ordering Viagra online, and more. Spammers will also be able to manage multiple spam email addresses from one account. The whole thing has me wondering if this is the Internet equivalent of a burner cell phone.
Haha! This is a hot idea but it totally is like having a burner (not a gun for the hood kids).