Surfshark on Monday released a new tool, Alternative ID, which provides users with an alternative identity and email address to use online while keeping their true identity concealed. The tool can forward all emails to the user’s real email address, but these emails can be canceled at any time by deleting or changing the alternative email account. Alternative ID can help users enhance the privacy of their personal data online, avoid spam, and prevent their data from being sold to data brokers or stolen by malicious actors.
When setting up Alternative ID, users can enter their preferred gender, birth date, and country, and Surfshark will generate a unique persona and email address to use online.
Surfshark develops a link between the alternative email and the user’s real email address and forwards the emails to the user’s real email address. However, the alternative email can be deleted at any time, and a new one can be generated. There are other companies on the market offering similar solutions.
To set up Alternative ID, users should log into their Surfshark One or Surfshark One+ account and select Alternative ID.
Sarunas Sereika, product manager at Surfshark
People are constantly asked by websites to provide their personal information, including name, address, and email. At the same time, we can see that data breaches are happening more and more rapidly, and data brokers are also actively buying and selling user data. Moreover, people’s inboxes are constantly being flooded with spam emails from numerous companies, and it can be challenging to manage and eliminate them all. With Alternative ID, users can minimize their online footprint and enhance their privacy while maintaining their freedom online and being able to sign up on websites or subscribe to newsletters without worry. Alternative ID is not meant to be used with official and trustworthy establishments, such as governmental institutions or banks that require your real details. It is meant to be used on websites that are used only once or very rarely and that have vague privacy protection practices. It can also be used when signing up for newsletters, online shops, or when listing items online where your email might be exposed to strangers. What sets us apart from many other service providers is our dedication to prioritizing credibility, transparent privacy policies, and ensuring a safe and reliable experience for our users. Furthermore, we provide a flexible option that allows you to enjoy our services for as long as you desire
