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I used this trick for years. However, there are downsides. For example, sometimes a service will let you sign up with this just fine, but later when you need t
by midispring 9y ago
I used this trick for years. However, there are downsides.
For example, sometimes a service will let you sign up with this just fine, but later when you need to do something else (such as password reset) or a phone agent has to enter it... it chokes.
Not to mention after some time passes you may forget what the special bit was and have to fall back to searching your email. Being regimented about the naming system helps, but it's not foolproof.
I'm using this trick less and less nowadays and just entering my plain email to avoid these hassles... especially for things like real life accounts. For possibly shady characters and account email consolidation, still a great trick!
- simcop2387 9y agoThis is why I have my own domain. I have a catch-all email box that just accepts everything and can make up emails on the spot, service@example.com. It makes things a lot easier down the road if I have a problem with my current provider as I can change the MX records at will. This means though that my DNS service must be under another domain for safety though but that's less of an issue.
- GrinningFool 9y agoDo you have anything written about the components & configuration, by any chance?
- leipert 9y agoThat is actually pretty easy. 1. register domain at a registrar that supports email catch all (I use namecheap, not affiliated) 2. setup email catch all (https://imgur.com/a/PTlzv https://imgur.com/a/PTlzv) with redirect to your "real" email 3. write email to foobar@example.org -> get's redirected to your "real" email This has the big advantage that you can change your real email account (I switched away from GMail two years ago) quite easily, you can track who leaks your address and filter more easily. But be prepared to leave some people stunned, I registered at my electricity provider with electricity@example.org or at my hairdresser with hairdo@example.org
- GrinningFool 9y agoThanks! (Belated)
- simcop2387 9y agoIn my case I'm using an old grandfathered free google apps setup. So I don't have anything to really setup/configure myself. I know it's possible to do it with postfix and other mailing agents. https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-setup-postfix-catch-all-email-accounts/ https://www.cyberciti.biz/faq/howto-setup-postfix-catch-all-...
- GordonS 9y ago> Not to mention after some time passes you may forget what the special bit was and have to fall back to searching your email A password manager solves this problem
- midispring 9y agoI knew someone would say this. lol If you're away from your computer and haven't installed the password manager to your phone (I'm not nearly alone in this), then you may need to fall back to searching your emails. Better? Anyway, this doesn't solve the other technical problems you may hit at some point using this trick. I'm just giving people a heads up. It's a useful tool for certain things, but it can be overused.
- __david__ 9y agoYes, this is the reason I know that the + character is %2b in a url. I've had to manually type it on so many crappy unsubscribe links (they don't realize + needs to be escaped because the web server they are using is doing the old-school + => space translation). The nice thing about running my own email server is I configured it to use . and _ as well as +. me.xxxx@example.com and me_xxxx@example.com are pretty much guaranteed to work, and it ends up exactly the same as the +.