When not to use a temporary address
7 July 2026 · 3 min read
A throwaway address is excellent for a one-off download, a forum you will never return to, or a discount code. It is a bad idea for anything you might need to recover.
Do not use one for
- Anything holding money or identity.
- An account you will want to reset the password on later.
- A service that emails receipts you may need.
- Anything with a warranty, subscription or renewal.
When the account matters but the company does not deserve your real address, that is what an alias is for: permanent, recoverable, and switch-off-able. Use the throwaway when you genuinely mean throwaway.
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