Google’s Shielded Email feature sounds quite similar to Apple’s Hide My Email service that is available to iCloud+ subscribers.
Google is working on a new feature that could protect a user’s privacy while using apps that ask for their email address, according to a report. Strings of code spotted in one of the company’s applications reveal that a feature called Shielded Email is currently in development, and it could allow users to share email address ‘aliases’ when signing up for apps or newsletters. Apple already offers a similar feature on its devices called Hide My Email, for iCloud+ subscribers.
Email aliases with forwarding support could be provided by the shielded email feature.
During a breakdown of the Google Play Services version 24.45.33 APK, Assemble Debug and Android Authority discovered a new feature called Shielded Email. The newspaper uncovered a number of code snippets that provide insight into the alleged feature and its potential use, should the corporation decide to implement it.
By creating an email alias when an application requests an email address, the Shielded Email feature, according to the study, will allow users to keep their email address hidden. Their protection from “online tracking and data breaches” is another way that one of the strings explains why the function can be useful.
Additionally, it looks like these email aliases will be able to redirect emails to the user’s actual mailbox, which might act as a defense against spam emailing services. Whether users will be able to create several Shielded Email addresses (or aliases) is still unknown.
According to the article, Google may combine the Shielded Email feature with its Autofill capabilities on Android handsets. A screenshot of the Autofill settings area reveals a new icon that shows an email with the Google logo and a blue tag.
It’s important to note that Apple, Google’s competitor, already provides a function called Hide My Email that is comparable. Users can create email aliases instantaneously using this function, which is exclusive to iCloud+ subscribers, rather than disclosing their actual email address to a website or service. Emails sent to these aliases are likewise sent to the user’s actual email inbox.
When and if Google will make the new Shielded Email feature available to users is unknown. Additionally unknown at this time are other specifics like availability and cost (or if it would just be available to Google One subscribers). However, in the upcoming weeks or months, we should expect to learn more about the feature and its operation.