computer nerd ToTD: don't EVER use your valuable email address on the public internet

[steve2470]

If you must, use a "trash email" address (i.e, one you don't like, tons of them out there that are free).

If you put your email address on a public-facing internet page (like DU), you will get on the spam lists.

Example: You type [e-mail] on DU. Within days (hours?), you will get on spam lists. I made the mistake of doing this years ago, and now I get spam. I could discard the addy but it's easy to remember and I've had it for years.

I know most of us know this, but again, maybe a few don't. HTH.

[mike_c]

1. I'm old school and use a single email address, always....

I started using email back when the internet was primarily an academic network. Remember when posting commercial messages would get you ostracized on usenet forums?

Anyway, having one email address was a luxury in those days. I still use my academic acct as my one and only working email address.

[Agony]

2. I think that you meant to say that you always use a single BITNET address...

[Travis_0004]

3. Here is what I do

Lets assume my email is [e-mail]. I don't give that out on a public website (but may give it out when signing up for stuff)

I would give out the email [e-mail] (which forwards to my main email account) for a public website.

I even take it a bit further. Lets say I make a donation to Hilary and the website wants my email account. I would use [e-mail]. (gmail will ignore what comes after the plus, and still deliver it to me)

If I get too much spam, I have my email to trash anything sent to that exact email address If my email address is given out, I even know who gave it to me. If change.org emailed me using the [e-mail], I know it was the Hilary campaign staff who gave that email to them.

Also, lets say you want to sign up for coupons, and you can only sign up once per email address.

I can sign up [e-mail]. [e-mail]. [e-mail], etc or even [e-mail].

Gmail will ignore the period in an email address. These tricks work in Gmail. No clue how they work with other email providers.

[hollysmom]

4. heh, I have so many e-mails

I have one for each of the two paypal accounts, will get rid on one now that I am going down to one - this pretty much stops all paypal spam crap. money password
I have one for E-bay only. again the crap about ebay tends to go to the other addresses money password
I have one for signing up to all message boards - I never read it after I get registered. same password as all garbage
I have one specifically for signing up to something I never want to hear from again but have to give them something- that would be my nomailbabe sign in. same garbage password
I have one for games same garbage password
I have one for close friends and family unique password
I have one for government stuff like taxes, banks and credit cards and stuff unique password
I have one for charity work - garbage password - no one wants to see what volunteers are signing up and schedules, forms etc.