Gmail Introduces ‘Shielded Email’ Feature to Enhance Privacy and Combat Spam

Google is set to introduce a major update to Gmail, potentially affecting its 3 billion users. The new feature, called ‘Shielded Email,’ is designed to combat spam, malware, and emerging AI-based threats by allowing users to create masked email addresses. Similar to Apple’s ‘Hide My Email’ function, this feature will enable users to generate temporary or single-use email aliases when signing up for websites or services. These aliases will forward messages to the user’s primary Gmail inbox while keeping their real email address private. Users will have the ability to turn off forwarding from these aliases if they start receiving unwanted emails. The feature is expected to be integrated into Google’s Autofill system, offering the option to create a shielded email address when filling out online forms. While the exact release date is not specified, the feature is reportedly in advanced development stages. This update represents a significant step in email privacy and security, potentially prompting users to consider creating new Gmail accounts to fully leverage this feature and start fresh with enhanced protection89.