New Update Firefox Private Relay is Mozilla's latest experimental service

[CyberTech]

Firefox Private Relay is a new experimental service by Firefox maker Mozilla; the (currently) invite-only service is designed to reduce unwanted emails and spam by acting as a proxy email service of sorts.

The idea is not new but Mozilla may be on to something considering that trust is important for this kind of service. Users sign-in with their Firefox account, or create a new one, to start using the service. A companion add-on for Firefox is available as well which integrates the service in Firefox.

Users of the service may use it to create alias email addresses on the fly that redirect emails sent to them to the user's "real" email address. The user is in full control of the alias and may terminate or disable the alias at any point in time to cut the connection and block any spam or unwanted emails from reaching the real email address.

Users may click on the relay button next to email fields to create an alias on the fly. The alias is automatically forwarding emails that come from that service to the real email address.

The add-on's description provides further information:

Private Relay adds UI to generate unique, random, anonymous email addresses that forward to your real address. You can use your relay addresses to sign up for apps, sites, or newsletters. When you're done with that service, you can disable or destroy the email address so you'll never receive any more emails from it. And, if the service has an incident, their data won't be linked back to you.

Some features are unclear at the time of writing because of the invite-only nature of the service. Will users be able to select different domains for the email aliases or only one? It is quite common that disposable email services and email forwarding services get blocked by Internet companies and sites. It is also unclear whether Mozilla plans to introduce a paid option or options such as custom domain, if PGP or similar is supported, and whether functionality is limited in any form (e.g. number of aliases or forwards).

Homepage

Firefox Relay

⁨Firefox Relay⁩ makes it easy to create email masks that forward your messages to your true inbox. Use them to protect your online accounts from hackers and unwanted messages.

relay.firefox.com

Source

Firefox Private Relay is Mozilla's latest experimental service - gHacks Tech NewsFirefox Private Relay is a new experimental service by Firefox maker Mozilla; the (currently) invite-only service is designed to reduce unwanted emails and spam by actin

Firefox Private Relay is a new experimental service by Firefox maker Mozilla; the (currently) invite-only service is designed to reduce unwanted emails and spam by acting as a proxy email service of […]

www.ghacks.net

 

[Azure]

So, this is basically Blur.

 

[Ink]

Similar to the Hide My Email option with Sign in with Apple.

When you see a Sign in with Apple button on a participating app or website, it means you can set up an account and sign in with your Apple ID. Instead of using a social media account, or filling out forms and choosing another new password, just tap the Sign in with Apple button, review your information, and sign in quickly and securely with Face ID, Touch ID, or your device passcode.

A unique, random email address is created, so your personal email address isn't shared with the app or website developer during the account setup and sign in process. This address is unique to you and the developer and follows this format: <unique-alphanumeric-string>@privaterelay.appleid.com

 

[Stopspying]

Another article on this development -

Naked Security – Sophos News

nakedsecurity.sophos.com

 

[silversurfer]

Introducing Firefox Relay Premium, allowing more aliases to protect your identity from spammers​

Today, Firefox Relay, a privacy-first and free product that hides your real email address to help protect your identity, is available with a new paid Premium service offering. The release comes just in time for the holiday season to help spare your inbox from being inundated with emails from e-commerce sites, especially those sites where you may shop or visit a few times a year.

In real life you have a phone number where family and friends can call and reach out to you directly. You likely have it memorized by heart and it’s something you’ve had for years. In your online life your email address is like your phone number, it’s a personal and unique identifier. Your email address has become the way we login and access almost every website, app, newsletter, and hundreds of other interactions we have online every single day. That means your email address is in the hands of hundreds, if not thousands, of third parties. As you think more about your email address and the places it’s being used, Firefox Relay can help protect and limit where it’s being shared.

Introducing Firefox Relay Premium, allowing more aliases to protect your identity from spammers | The Mozilla Blog

Today, Firefox Relay, a privacy-first and free product that hides your real email address to help protect your identity, is available with a new paid Premi

blog.mozilla.org

 

[CyberTech]

Firefox Relay Premium, a subscription-based version of Firefox Relay, is now available in select countries.

Firefox Relay is an email forwarding service that I reviewed back in 2020 when it first launched. It makes use of aliases that act as a proxy between a user's email address and sites and services on the Internet. The main idea is to block spam by using the alias email address and not the user's email address for communication.

Instead of leaving the "real" email address on a site, e.g. when leaving a comment, signing up for a service, or buying something, a user of Firefox Relay would use an email alias that is provided by the service for that. Firefox Release forwards emails to the user's email address automatically.

Full article

Mozilla launches Firefox Relay Premium - gHacks Tech News

Firefox Relay Premium, a subscription-based version of Firefox Relay, is now available in select countries.

www.ghacks.net

 

[silversurfer]

The maintainers of a "disposable email service" blocklist have decided to add Firefox Relay to the list, leaving many users of the service upset.

Firefox Relay gets added to disposable email blocklist, angers users

The maintainers of a "disposable email service" blocklist have decided to add Firefox Relay to the list, leaving many users of the service upset. Firefox Relay is a privacy-centric email service that enables users to protect their real email addresses and hence limit spam.

www.bleepingcomputer.com

 

[SpiderWeb]

What is the point of making a disposable email blocklist? Why would anyone want to snitch on users? lol Why not spend the time and energy to make a blocklist of spam emails? Jesus, some people.

 

[enaph]

What is the point of making a disposable email blocklist? Why would anyone want to snitch on users? lol Why not spend the time and energy to make a blocklist of spam emails? Jesus, some people.

Co-maintainer of this blocklist is also a Google open source security team member - I guess this answers your question...

 

[SpiderWeb]

Got this email from DuckDuckGo's private relay service. DDG strips trackers from the email and you can reply through their relay service for free. Why would someone pay for Mozilla or Apple's monthly service when their do less? Btw I have Apple, Mozilla and DDG's private emails services and I use all of them depending on what is the most convenient. But my DDG email address has essentially become my new favorite email address for online accounts.

 

[silversurfer]

Firefox Relay by Mozilla is an email forwarding service that is designed to improve user privacy and reduce the amount of spam users get. Mozilla published an update in March 2022 that raises the attachment size limit and introduces a filter for promotional content to the service.

Firefox Relay update brings larger attachment sizes and a filter for promotional emails - gHacks Tech News

The latest version of the email forwarding service Firefox Relay supports larger attachment sizes and the optional blocking of promotional messages.

www.ghacks.net

 

[silversurfer]

Mozilla has big plans for Firefox Relay. One of the upcoming features of the service is the ability to protect phone numbers. Like the service's email alias feature, it allows users to replace a phone number with one provided by Firefox Relay.

Calls and SMS are forwarded automatically to the user's phone so that the actual phone number is not revealed anymore.

Sören Hentzschel notes that the feature will launch on October 11, 2022 in the United States and Canada. Mozilla has yet to reveal the price for the add-on, as the functionality is not included in the premium subscription pricing.

Talking about price. The introductory price of Firefox Relay Premium ends on September 27, 2022, but it is not as bad as it sounds. While the price of a monthly subscription increases to $1.99 per month, the $0.99 per month remains the price for users who subscribe to the service for an entire year.

Mozilla plans to support Firefox Relay natively in Firefox. Firefox Relay users who sign-in to Firefox will have automatic access to their aliases and the creation of new aliases in Firefox once the feature lands.

Firefox Relay: integration in Firefox, phone number forwarding and new price - gHacks Tech News

Mozilla's Firefox Relay email alias forwarding service will soon protect phone numbers and will be integrated natively into Firefox.

www.ghacks.net