How to send an anonymous email: A step-by-step guide to protect your privacy

Anonymous emails: Understanding the concept and legitimate reasons behind it

While the idea of anonymous emails might evoke thoughts of intrigue or controversy, there are plenty of legitimate reasons why someone might choose to send one. Whether you’re a whistleblower, journalist, or simply someone trying to express feelings without revealing your identity, learning how to send an anonymous email can be both practical and important.

In contrast to regular email communication, where both parties are aware of each other's identity, an anonymous email conceals the sender's personal details. Standard emails expose more than you might expect, including the sender's IP address, which can be found in the email's metadata. Additionally, many email services require personal details, such as your name and address, to create an account—information that can be compromised if your email is hacked.

A truly anonymous email is defined by the absence of any personally identifiable information (PII) tied to the sender. This includes not only your name and address but also your IP address, timestamps, and other metadata.

What does anonymous email not guarantee?

The level of anonymity can vary depending on how far you go to conceal your identity. If you're not worried about hiding your IP address, there are still ways to send emails without revealing your personal details. For instance, creating a new email account using fake information can let you send messages without directly exposing who you are. However, this type of email might not be fully anonymous, as your IP address and some metadata can still be traced back to you.

Why use an anonymous email account?

There are several valid reasons for choosing to use an anonymous email account, including:

• You want to minimize exposure to spam, ads, and tracking tools.
• You need to keep certain communications private, whether for personal or professional reasons.
• You are planning to act as a whistleblower within your current workplace.
• You reside in a region where government surveillance of online activity is common.
• You’re a journalist who needs to protect your identity or safeguard the anonymity of your sources.

5 ways to send an anonymous email and protect your privacy

True email anonymity requires removing any personally identifiable information (PII), including your IP address. The only way to achieve complete anonymity when sending an email is by masking your IP using a virtual private network (VPN) or the Tor browser. This is the first step toward privacy, and the following methods should be used alongside it for full anonymity.

1.Use a VPN

A VPN reroutes your internet traffic through servers worldwide, hiding your IP address from hackers, the government, and even your internet service provider (ISP). However, a VPN alone won’t make your email anonymous; it should be combined with other strategies, such as encrypted email accounts or disposable email services. For example, an encrypted email service hides your PII and secures the content of your email while the VPN protects your IP.

When selecting a VPN, choose one with a strict no-logs policy, meaning the provider does not store any user data that could later be used to identify you. Although effective, reliable VPNs often come with a subscription fee.

For a free alternative, you can use the Tor browser. This volunteer-operated network routes your internet activity through several encrypted layers, hiding your IP address as you send emails. While Tor is effective for anonymity, it tends to have slower connection speeds due to the complex routing process.

2.Use an anonymous and encrypted email provider

Anonymous and encrypted email services operate similarly to regular email but add an extra layer of security by encrypting your messages, inbox, and contact list. This encryption ensures that third parties—such as your ISP, hackers, government, or even the email provider—cannot access your communications or see who you're corresponding with. Only the recipient of the email can read its contents.

These services are ideal for ongoing communications where you need to access and reply to messages regularly. However, while encryption protects your email content, it doesn’t hide your IP address, which could still be used to identify you.

Popular anonymous and encrypted email providers include:

• ProtonMail: Great for personal use, with strong encryption and a strict no-logs policy.
• Hushmail: Suited for small businesses, healthcare, and legal professionals.
• Guerrilla Mail: A free and simple service offering temporary, disposable email accounts.

3.Strip metadata from attached files

Even when using encrypted email and a VPN, attached files might contain metadata that reveals information about you. For example, photos taken with a digital camera may include details such as the photographer’s identity and the time and location of the image. Similarly, Word documents or Excel files might contain metadata showing the author or organization.

To remove metadata from attachments:

On Windows, you can use the Document Inspector tool or manually right-click the file, go to Properties > Details, and select Remove Properties and Personal Information.

On macOS, you'll need a third-party app like ImageOptim to remove metadata.

4.Create a burner email account

Burner email accounts are similar to disposable prepaid phones. You can use them briefly, then discard them without registering any personal details. These accounts typically expire after a set period and allow you to send and receive emails without tying your activity back to your identity.

While burner accounts are convenient, especially for signing up on websites to avoid spam, they don’t conceal your IP address. For better anonymity, pairing them with a VPN is recommended.

5.Create a new email account

You can always set up a new email account using any provider, but make sure to enter false information during registration, such as a fake name, date of birth, and address. While this method allows for some anonymity, using a VPN to hide your IP address is crucial for complete privacy.

Email providers to avoid if privacy is a concern

Popular corporate email services like Yahoo and Gmail are attractive because they are free, user-friendly, and offer convenient apps. However, these companies don’t prioritize privacy and often have access to your email account. If maintaining privacy is important to you, it’s best to steer clear of the following providers:

• Gmail: Google has a history of questionable privacy practices, including scanning users' emails for marketing purposes. While they claim to have stopped this in 2017, the company still allows third parties access to users' inboxes.
  
• Yahoo Mail: In 2016, Yahoo was exposed for providing backdoor access to U.S. intelligence agencies, compromising hundreds of millions of accounts. Since 2017, Yahoo has been part of Verizon Media, a company known for tracking users via cookies, device IDs, and other methods.
• AOL Mail: Yes, AOL Mail still exists, but it too became part of Verizon Media in 2017. Like Yahoo, AOL collects personal information, including IP addresses and cookies, to monitor user behavior.

You don’t need to be in a unique situation to explore anonymous email options. If you value your privacy, it’s worth adjusting your email habits, such as using encrypted services or disposable accounts when handling sensitive information. Just remember that without a VPN, your IP address can still be traced through your internet service provider (ISP), and metadata embedded in your emails or attachments could expose identifying details.