In the simplest terms, an anonymous email provider hides the sender's identity from the recipient. Usually, the sender's email address is from a disposable email provider or is a decoy. Many anonymous email providers also cloak your IP address (the computer address from which the email originated) and other identifying information.

You might think anonymous email is only useful for contacting a secret crush or spamming an address book with ads for the latest entrepreneurial scheme, but there are legitimate business and personal reasons for using an anonymous email service. Be aware that there are three different methods to choose from, offering varying levels of anonymity.

1. A remailer service strips out your personal identifying information from an email you send before sending it on to the intended recipient.

2. Anonymous webmail accounts are a popular choice because they are free and don't verify information during signup. Just keep in mind that a free anonymous email account is usually the least secure option and your information can be more easily traced than you may think.

3. A disposable email address is most often used when filling out online forms as a means of reducing spam, but can also be used for sending anonymous email, since your email address won't be recognized.

Action Steps
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Read and understand more about anonymous email providers basics

Choosing an anonymous email service can seem complicated, especially when dealing with remailer services, which are quite technical in nature. While some websites are filled with technical jargon and too much detail, you can start with a site that explains your choices in everyday terms.

I recommend: Start at Epiphyte's website, Novo Ordo, which gives an excellent description of anonymous email, how it works and the types of remailers you can select from. Guard Privacy & Online Security suggests reasons for anonymous mail, explains how it works, describes available services and offers additional articles.

Discover the uses for anonymous email

You might be wondering why anyone would send anonymous email. There are many legitimate reasons. One of the most common reasons to use an anonymous email service is to help reduce spam, for example.

I recommend: Majon International posted a good article on how anonymous email can allow you to speak up about your concerns where identifying yourself might carry negative consequences. IPinfo.info provides a detailed account of using anonymous email as a way to fight spam.

Find the best anonymous email providers

Now that you know the different methods of emailing anonymously, you'll want to select one that is best for you. If you do an online search for 'webmail anonymous,' for example, you'll get countless results. For a more targeted list, visit a website with a section devoted to anonymous solutions.

I recommend: Strike The Root offers a thorough anonymous email review with pros, cons, cost and storage limits. Spies Online has a lengthy list of anonymous services, from emailing to online surfing. Finally, TheFreeSite.com's list of anonymous options are all free to use.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Remember that an anonymous email address is not to be used to harass or threaten. Furthermore, an anonymous email provider will report a user who conducts illegal activities.

Anonymous email accounts provide protection against spam and other unwanted emails. Every time you sign up for anything on the Internet with your real email address, spam begins. With anonymous email, you can thwart these attempts by providing that anonymous email for forms you fill out on the Internet. Delete the anonymous email address, and create another when spam begins.

With anonymous email providers, you get:

1. Protection from spam and unwanted emails.

2. Privacy - you never have to reveal your real email address again.

3. An extra layer of protection from viruses and worms when using anonymous web mail.

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Send that spam to your anonymous email address

Are you tired of opening your email only to find dozens of emails asking you to buy facial cream? Anonymous email providers offer an alternative to providing your real email address when filling out forms or ordering products on the Internet. If your anonymous email account begins to get spam, delete it and create another alias.

I recommend: Anonymizer is one of these services. You can automate the anonymous email aliases you set up to expire in a certain amount of time, or manually control the email service. Nabuma offers completely free anonymous email. You create your anonymous email account and read your emails on their anonymous web mail server. Change your anonymous email address as often as you wish.

Provide privacy with an anonymous email provider

Even when you know the person you are communicating with, you may not want to reveal your email address. Anonymous email service providers make sending anonymous email completely private.

I recommend: Anonymous Speech offers anonymous email service with a guarantee. They are located in Japan and not subject to the laws of the US. They guarantee they will not hand over your data even if the US has a court order. Anonymous Speech supplies you with an anonymous email address that works with Outlook and provides read receipts and receive replies along with the other features of this anonymous email. Veralinx also provides anonymous webmail service. Unlike others, it keeps all of your emails on their own servers for added protection of your anonymous email. Review the low price for this anonymous email service.

Use anonymous web mail for extra protection from Internet viruses

Many emails contain viruses and worms that can destroy your computer. Oftentimes, the email comes from a friend or coworker who is infected, and when you open the email, you release the virus. Anonymous web mail services keep the email on their server, which provides you with that extra measure of security from any email threats.

I recommend: Anonymous Email has a list of anonymous email providers you may choose, along with anonymous email reviews. Neomailbox hosted email service gives you privacy and protection for your anonymous email account needs.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Try before you buy. Most of the services offer free trial periods for their anonymous email service. If you do not see a free trial offer, ask for one.

Some companies make anonymous email available to allow employees the freedom to report theft or sensitive issues that they may not otherwise do in person. You can also use anonymous email providers to report employees of clients and business partners. An anonymous email provider can also be an excellent way to reduce spam to your company email server. Whatever the use, you'll need to review anonymous email providers advice and ratings to help you choose the service that best fits your company's requirements.

First, you must establish why you or your company need to use this service and what features are important. There are disposable addresses with email forwarding that allow only the valid emails through to your email server. Maybe you want to send an email that comes from an anonymous address and not from your company's email exchange. Whatever the reason you need this service, here are few things to consider, prior to registering with a particular service provider:

1. Review the anonymous webmail FAQs and tutorials.

2. Study the process of sending anonymous email.

3. Examine the anonymous mail system reviews and ratings information.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Evaluate the online anonymous email service tutorials

Before you sign up for an anonymous email account, be sure that you know the various uses of the service. The frequently asked questions sections of established services can provide excellent advice in this area. Tutorials are also an excellent resource to help you understand the pros and cons of an anonymous email service.

I recommend: Peruse the anonymous email tutorial from Epiphyte, which explain how the service works. Review the frequently asked questions section at Mute Mail.

Examine the methods of sending anonymous email

If you want to keep the process of sending an anonymous in-house and not rely on an outside service, there are ways to do this. However, you'll need technology savvy people on staff that are comfortable with the procedure.

I recommend: Assess the feasibility of sending an anonymous yourself by reviewing the tutorial from Winning Pearls. Study the article from Anonymous Speech to know how to test the anonymity of the email prior to sending it.

Use an anonymous email review to select the best service provider

Once you've decided to use an anonymous email provider, the next step is to choose the one that best fits your needs. The factors that come into play are cost, functionality, storage capacity and security features. Each of these factors will differ by company. However, security is usually at the top of most everyone's list, given that the goal is for the email to be as anonymous as possible.

I recommend: Review the pros and cons of the services listed at Strike the Root. Evaluate the anonymous email-rating article from Info Powered. Use the information available at the Windows Live blog to help you choose the right service provider.

Anonymous email providers go by many terms but the result is the same, you never reveal your true IP address when you use this type of service. Some of the companies forward your emails using their server; some give you an email address to use on their server.

Pick the kind of service that works best for your company. If you want to use your real email but not your real IP address, anonymous email providers can do this for you. Learn the terms of the different types of services that provide anonymous email service.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hide the IP address providers

Hide the IP address providers cloak your IP address by providing the IP address of proxy servers for your use. This type of anonymous email provider never reveals your true IP address to the receiver of your email.

I recommend: Effective Tools provides a definition of IP address hiding and how to find a provider of this service.

Disposable email providers

Disposable email providers offer an email address located on their server for one to use instead of providing one's real email address. Using this form of anonymous email providers works well when filling out web forms. If the company sends too much spam to the disposable email address, close the account.

I recommend: Helpero offers information about disposable email providers plus a list of such providers. Prospector provides a definition of disposable email providers and a list of companies providing this service.

Email forwarding providers

Email forwarding providers accept your email then resend your email using their credentials. The end receiver does not know your true location with this type of anonymous email provider service.

I recommend: Free Email Providers Guide offers a long list of email forwarding providers. The Free Country provides information describing email forwarding providers. Scroll halfway down the page for this information.

Temporary email providers, throw away email providers

Temporary email providers, also known as throw away email providers, let you open an account to use for filling out registration forms. When you finish with the account, close it and open another. This type of anonymous email provider does not care how many accounts you open with them.

I recommend: Security Pitstop provides a definition of throwaway email providers and a list of companies providing this service.

Email encryption providers

Email encryption providers transform an ordinary text email to a computer language. In order to read the email, one must have the private key. If the email falls into the wrong hands, they only see what appears to be meaningless symbols. Although technically this is not an anonymous email provider, it does render your email anonymous to all but those who have your key.

I recommend: Microsoft offers a detailed article about what encryption means. They advise how to encrypt one or more messages and the tools one needs to do this.

Remailer email provider

Remailer email providers offer a service that strips away the headers in your private email and replaces it with their headers. This will effectively render your email anonymous.

I recommend: Email Privacy provides information on remailer email providers, and also defines the term.