The new feature titled Shielded Email was first discovered in Google's Autofill settings, according to a news by Android Authority. The feature has not gone live yet. Under wraps for now, code in the latest update for Google Play Services gives interesting clues about its potential possibilities.
Shielded Email can be used to solve one of the main problems that internet users face, i.e., spam and loss of privacy. Shielded Emails will give Gmail users the chance to automatically create a unique random email alias whenever they need to sign up for a website or service. Thus, enabling users to send and receive emails without exposing primary email addresses.
The rumoured Gmail feature will protect the user’s main inbox. It will also help monitor which sites are selling or sharing the account holder’s email address. If spam or unwanted messages start coming in through one of these aliases, users will know exactly where the leak occurred.
Apple' Hide My Email service provides a similar function but through an iCloud+ paid subscription. It is still unknown if Google's Shielded Email will be free. It may require a paid Google One subscription or a subscription to any other Google service.
Shielded Email is no doubt a powerful feature, meant to enhance user privacy and security. Thus, this move by Google represents its commitment to give users greater control over the use of their personal data.