DuckDuckGo Email Protection \ stacker news ~privacy

DuckDuckGo Email Protection www.spreadprivacy.com/protect-your-inbox-with-duckduckgo-email-protection/

767 sats \ 6 comments \ @0fje0 5 Dec 2023 privacy

Seems to be a free service, but I haven't tried it yet. Hope to do so soon.

From the article:

DuckDuckGo Email Protection is a free email forwarding service that removes multiple types of hidden email trackers and lets you create unlimited unique private email addresses on the fly.

view all related items

21 sats \ 4 replies \ @k00b 5 Dec 2023

multiple types of hidden email trackers

I turn off images in my email for detracking reasons but are there ways to embed trackers in email without images?

I imagine proxying those images and running regex over links is most of the work.

323 sats \ 2 replies \ @0fje0 OP 6 Dec 2023

I turn off images

So do I.

The extra protection I expect DuckDuckGo's to provide, is link protection:

Companies embed trackers in images and links within email messages, letting them collect information like when you’ve opened a message, where you were when you opened it, and what device you were using.

So, if you already never click on any links in emails, then DuckDuckGo's utility lies in its ability to generate new addresses with ease whenever you need them. (Something I've been doing for years, but only semi automaticly.)

Trying out their service now...

101 sats \ 1 reply \ @bzzzt 6 Dec 2023

Report back, ill be curious!

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @0fje0 OP 6 Dec 2023

Will do.

323 sats \ 0 replies \ @davidw 5 Dec 2023

Trackers get installed in links too of course. From the marketing gurus:

Invisible image pixel allows you to detect the exact time and date that an email has been opened, allowing you to see the bigger picture of what the reader responds to and how you can cater to their needs better.

You can also add redirects and special tags to the links in your email, which makes it easy to collect data about what links are clicked, how many times, and by whom.

Loosely related: If you use a Mac, in general there's LittleSnitch which can alert you to network calls and requests. It's pretty persistent and in-your-face but I have found really useful to tell you what's going on 'under the hood' of any app, site or service. If you are compelled to use Apple hardware of course.

0 sats \ 0 replies \ @021da48107 6 Dec 2023

I used to use this service a lot before I got a better email host-er that allowed plus addresses. The big issue I had with the DuckDuckGo email service is you can't send from your duckduckgo address. I ran into multiple issues (one with Strike) where the company required me to send an email from the duckduckgo address, but I wasn't able to.