A new answer to spam

How do I …. use a disposable e-mail address?

We’re all fighting the spam problem. So when you come upon a Web form or Web site asking you for an e-mail address to get something (such as to download software), providing a real address could generate spam.

The solution: Use a disposable e-mail address that serves for just that occasion.

Two recommended temporary e-mail options are Mailinator.com and TemporaryInbox.com. Both involve creating a bogus inbox name and then letting you direct messages to that inbox.

No sign-up is needed at either. Whichever name you choose, if someone knows you’re using that site, it’s possible to guess your inbox name. So be careful and don’t use a simple name.

TemporaryInbox.com allows you to forward mail from your temporary inbox to your real inbox, which might be useful. Mailinator doesn’t do that.