A Simple Privacy Related New Years Resolution for 2025
Fight spam and bolster your privacy with this easy New Years resolution
First, welcome to all our new readers. We’ve seen a massive surge in subscriptions the last month. And thank you to our long time subscribers, especially our paid subscribers, who continue to support us and help spread the word.
In reviewing new subscriber data, we noticed an interesting stat: only about 10% of subscribers use an email alias or temporary address when signing up. The majority of readers are using what looks like a primary email address—often with a name or other personal info included.
Long time readers know we’re super fans of email aliases. We think they’re the best privacy ROI around. Here’s a two part series we did on the topic:
Here’s a recent post we did on a top use case for disposable email addresses:
If you’re not yet using email aliases, here’s a friendly suggestion - make using email aliases a New Years Resolution for 2025. They’re particularly great for your primary email address to sign up for newsletters. Even though it goes against Internet Marketing 101, we encourage our readers to sign up for our newsletter using a disposable email address.
➡️ Consider using an email alias (SimpleLogin, AnonAddy, or similar tools) or at least creating a separate, non-identifying email address for your Substack and other online subscriptions.
Why it matters:
Reduce spam risk. If one of your subscriptions is ever breached, your main inbox stays secure.
Add a layer of privacy. Keep your personal email address out of circulation whenever possible.
For your Substack subscriptions, you don’t need to delete your existing subscription—just update your email if needed. Substack makes it easy! Here’s how to do that straight from the Substack website (link here):
Privacy starts with small, mindful choices. Using an email alias is one of the easiest and best privacy choices you can make.
Another great privacy choice is upgrading to a paid subscription to Secrets of Privacy. To help you out, we’re offering 30% off a one year subscription. Offer is only available until January 31, 2025. Existing paid subscribers can extend their subscription at the discounted price. Get started directly below (or here). 👇
Thank you for your continued support and trust in us. Especially all of our paid subscribers - we couldn’t do this without you. 🙏
Looking for help with a privacy issue or privacy concern? Chances are we’ve covered it already or will soon. Follow us on X and LinkedIn for updates on this topic and other internet privacy related topics. We’re also now on Rumble and YouTube. Subscribe today to be notified when videos are published.
Disclaimer: None of the above is to be deemed legal advice of any kind. These are *opinions* written by a privacy attorney with 15+ years of working for, with and against Big Tech and Big Data. And this post is for informational purposes only and is not intended for use in furtherance of any unlawful activity.
Privacy freedom is more affordable than you think. We tackle the top Big Tech digital services and price out privacy friendly competitors here. The results may surprise you.
Check out our Personal Privacy Stack here.
Discover the very real privacy risks of AI chat bots here.
Looking to De-Google your life? Proton is one of the best ways to get there. Get started here with a paid plan for around $1/month. (affiliate link).
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