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Billions of people use Gmail every single day, and this unexpected upcoming change could be an absolute game-changer when it comes to protecting your information online.
Cybersecurity is definitely a growing concern among many as the internet grows and grows, as more than ever you have to be wary about your information being taken, sold, or even stolen.
Many of the biggest tech companies have increased their efforts to keep users safe, but with complex scams that can even show you where you live, you can never be too careful.
That's why an unexpected Gmail update on the horizon has many intrigued, as Google has copied one of their biggest rivals in a move that will affect over 2,000,000 users.
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As reported by Android Authority, an upcoming Gmail update will include the new 'Shielded Email' feature that'll allow users to create unique one-time email addresses to use in forms, sign-ups, and more.
This creates a 'false' email address that is completely different to your actual one, but still redirects all received mail into the one inbox.
Best of all, if you ever grow tired of what you're being sent, or suspect that you've been exposed to spam, you can simply disable that specific address and stop any future mail from coming in.
This is a huge step when it comes to keeping your information safe and your inbox clean, as it stops your actual email address from being shared far beyond your reach, and gives you a greater sense of agency over your digital footprint.
We've all been there in a situation where signing up to a newsletter or using a form would give us some form of discount or access to something we otherwise couldn't reach, but in doing so you need to hand over your email address.
The reason for this is because your 'information' is valuable companies, but it suddenly becomes much less of a problem for you if you're able to just shut them out whenever you want.
You could use things like 10 Minute Mail to create 'fake' emails before, but being able to still keep control of a single inbox is incredibly helpful.
Apple and iPhone users might have a familiar feeling though, as Google's 'new' feature is essentially a copy of the 'Hide My Email' feature that iOS users have had for over three years now.
It's proven to be incredibly helpful for those wanting to take advantage of it though, so it's no surprise that Google has taken a leaf out of the Apple tree in this instance.
