Apple plans to change its Hide My Email feature by moving anonymous email addresses to a new domain. Here’s what is changing, why it matters, and how it could affect your privacy online.
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What Happened?
Hide My Email lets people create private email addresses that forward messages to their real inbox. These addresses help users sign up for websites and apps without sharing their actual email address.
Apple said that in the coming weeks, it will move newly generated Hide My Email addresses from the standard @icloud.com domain to @private.icloud.com. Existing addresses will continue working normally.
The company told developers they may need to update their email settings to ensure messages continue reaching users who rely on the feature.
Who Could Be Affected?
The change affects people who use Apple’s Hide My Email feature through an iCloud+ subscription.
Today, private email addresses look similar to regular Apple email accounts because both use the @icloud.com domain. After the change, websites and apps will be able to identify Hide My Email addresses more easily because they will use the separate @private.icloud.com domain.
Apple has not said how many users rely on the feature.
The change does not involve a data breach or data leak. Apple has not reported that any user information was stolen.
However, privacy tools like Hide My Email help reduce the amount of personal information that websites collect. If fewer sites accept these private addresses, some users may have fewer options for protecting their identity online.
Many people focus on large data breaches in the news. However, they may not realize their information was leaked in other incidents over the years.
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Check my safetyHow Does Hide My Email Work?
Hide My Email creates a private email address that forwards messages to your real inbox.
For example, instead of giving a website your personal email address, you can give it a randomly generated address. Messages still reach you, but the website does not see your real email.
This can help reduce spam and limit the amount of personal information companies collect about you.
The concern raised by some users is that websites may now recognize these private addresses more easily and choose not to accept them during registration.
At Futureproof, Kevin explains digital safety in simple words, with clear tips and zero fluff. He holds a degree in information technology and studies fraud trends to keep his tips up-to-date.
In his free time, Kevin plays with his cat, enjoys board-game nights, and hunts for New York’s best cinnamon rolls.
