Have you ever read a message on a postcard that was not addressed to you? It was right there, in the open, so, how could it have been avoided? Maybe, at least once in your life, you’ve held an envelope up to the light, hoping to read its contents. Perhaps you were thwarted when you discovered that it was one of those “security” envelopes designed to prevent such snooping. Darn!
Maintaining email privacy on the Internet can be a tough proposition. It’s no secret (though, they wish it was) that email providers such as Google, Yahoo and Microsoft’s Hotmail and most Internet service providers keep massive records of email information. These records exist even after you have “deleted” this information from your inbox, just in case it might be needed for a government investigation or corporate lawsuit. Government despots and greedy business moguls have proven to have complete contempt for the notions of individual privacy and liberty.
There are many reasons why you might want to maintain email privacy, none of which have to do with trying to hide terrorist activities. These reasons could include the desire to prevent retribution for whistle-blowing, expressing religious or political views, or commenting on the workplace. Maybe you’re just tired of getting on another email spam list every time you turn around. Fortunately, there are some easy-to-use tools available that can greatly lower your Internet profile.
One of the coolest tools I’ve used lately is Mailinator (www.mailinator.com). It seems like every website in the world now wants you to give up your precious email address and “register,” after which they’ll email you your “secret access code,” or some other such nonsense. For years, I’ve maintained a separate email address just for this purpose, knowing that giving out my email address can subject me to a flood of spam. Mailinator makes this address unnecessary, as I can “register” using any wacky email address that I choose, such as, zapadapadoodlehead@mailinator.com. Afterwards, I can check my “email” at Mailinator using my new, disposable email address, retrieve my secret access code, and go on my merry, spam-free way. It couldn’t be simpler.
For more serious applications that can enhance your email privacy, you should look at tools that provide secure, encrypted email services and file storage. Encryption tools turn your email into a secret, James-Bond style garbled code that is decoded by the email recipient. In the not-so-distant past, using email encryption tools was a major pain in the neck, but fortunately, some easy-to-use services now exist. My favorites are Metropipe’s Mailvault PGP Webmail (www.mailvault.com) and Hush Communication’s Hushmail (www.hushmail.com). Both offer free, encrypted mail services that offer superior email protection and privacy that should suit most anyone. Secure instant messaging is also available, as well as upgraded and enhanced plans for business use and those with special needs. I don’t think you can go wrong with either service, and you’re bound to find something that meets your privacy needs.