Google don finally allow Gmail users to change dia old email addresses wey dem don dey shame of. But dis long-awaited update no solve anybody email problems at all. In fact, e even worse now because Gmail 2 billion users all need new email addresses.
Dis option to change Gmail addresses no be new thing. But wetin new na how Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, come dey front di PR campaign for US. “Gmail address no need to dey stuck inside am,” Sundar Pichai post. “Say goodbye to v0t3f0rp3dr02004@gmail.com or mrbrightside416@gmail.com.” Now you fit “go to your Google Account settings and choose any name wey dey available,” even though your old username go still dey work.
If di main objective na to help millennials leave school and college email addresses for better ones wey fit suit people with jobs and families, den dis update don try small. But dat one no be di real problem with email—whether na Gmail platform or any oda one. And dat problem no don fix.
Anybody wey get email address from 2004 fit sure say e don dey inside countless databases wey marketeers and scammers dey use every day. But di same thing dey happen if your email address just start from 2014 or even 2024. Once you begin use new address, game don over.
“An email address before dey permanent but now e finally fit edit like username, wey be big shift for how identity dey work online,” ESET security expert Jake Moore talk. “But until Google create ‘hide my email’ like wetin Apple dey offer, users fit better make separate email address for multiple sign ins.”
For people wey no sabi Apple ecosystem, Hide My Email allow users to create throw-away addresses for new sign-ins or checkouts. Dem fit ditch dis email addresses any time, meaning your real address no go enter those lists wey no fit redress once e happen.
“With Hide My Email, you fit generate unique, random email addresses wey go forward to your personal inbox automatically, so you fit keep your personal email address private,” Apple explain. “You fit change di email address wey dey receive forwarded messages any time. Or you fit choose to turn off email forwarding to stop receive messages. You fit manage your addresses wey you create with Hide My Email for Settings for your iPhone, iPad or for iCloud.com.”
Na dis one wey dey needed. Apart from shameful names, no point to change your email address if you no fit use dis opportunity to tidy your inbox and stop give away your primary email address to almost anybody wey ask. You no go do dat with your phone number—for good reasons.
Di oda issue wey Gmail users dey face na say with Gmail new address change option, “old addresses go still work as aliases,” Jake Moore warn. “Dis one sound helpful but e fit increase impersonation and phishing attacks.”
Google get Hide My Email option wey dey development, even though dat one don dey long time and no sign of general availability. Users fit play games with Gmail addresses to create proxies, but dis one no come with any user management for any platform or OS, so e fail as real-world alternative.
Google don miss trick. If dem launch di option to change Gmail addresses together with Hide My Email offering, e for be exceptional move. New addresses for don protect, solve all problems at once. Dat one na major opportunity wey miss, so Gmail 2 billion users still dey exposed.
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