Email Signup Privacy Concerns

Users debate the necessity of providing real email addresses for website signups, expressing fears of spam and privacy leaks while suggesting alternatives like fake or temporary emails.

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#5867
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Keywords

COM IMO HN OK NOT INSIDE.COM INSIDE email email address address sign addresses signup email addresses emails account mail

Sample Comments

grogenaut • Nov 14, 2019 • View on HN

why even give them a real email address?

black_puppydog • Jun 21, 2018 • View on HN

wait, why do they need users' emails?

bluekite2000 • Jan 26, 2011 • View on HN

why do you need to supply an email? Is that even necessary? Most people will fake it anyway

icebraining • Oct 2, 2015 • View on HN

Might as well not use an email at all, no?

muszc-master • Feb 9, 2016 • View on HN

It's for those times when a signup could be useful for you but you don't want to give out your real email adress. Questions? :)

EGreg • Apr 8, 2018 • View on HN

Why is it bad to know if an email is already registered?

msh • Jun 30, 2020 • View on HN

As a user I can't see why any random app needs to know my true email address.

tomjen3 • Jun 11, 2016 • View on HN

What do you need email for, anyway? Not giving you one makes it pretty easy not to leak it.

jfoster • May 31, 2022 • View on HN

It's great if they don't require any email, but if they get one & intend to use it, what prevents them from spamming someone who doesn't even control the account?

WithinReason • Mar 26, 2025 • View on HN

why not use a fake email address?