E-mail ALIAS – A quick how-to

Hello again fellow following followers!

As promised in my previous post (august 23), here’s a quick how-to for using e-mail Alias.

Whut?

First, what’s an alias? Well, just like the word means, it’s to be used as “another name”. The other name is usually desired when an e-mail account’s names is too crappy or simply too long/complex to remember. Ex.: An e-mail could look something like this: armando.ronaldo-di-caprio_mechette-ahrryato@companyname.de. With an alias, it could become something a lot easier to remember and to write down: a.ronaldo@companyname.de.

A very common use (which used to be advertised as such back then) is to change that e-mail name you created while in sixth grade. (Ex.: super_fire-skater1994@hotmail.com) Why change? You may (or not) realized later on that you just can’t use this e-mail on your CV because frankly, it ain’t professional. So, instead of creating a new account, you simply create an alias; john.armando@outlook.com. No new e-mail account and no new login to remember!

How?

Microsoft, Yahoo! or any decent e-mail provider should/must support the creation of alias. Note that weirdly enough, Google’s Gmail does NOT; you’ll need a new account altogether on that platform or use their “notes” system… which defies the very purpose of alias.

Here are Microsoft’s and Yahoo!’s alias creation instructions:

Microsoft Outlook.com (Live, Hotmail, etc.) alias creation

Yahoo! mail alias creation

Enjoy!

Sirus
sirusdark.ca

References
-http://windows.microsoft.com/en-CA/windows/outlook/add-alias-account
-https://help.yahoo.com/kb/yahoo-business-mail/alias-sln17350.html
-https://support.google.com/mail/answer/12096?hl=en

Why you need free e-mail accounts – Outlook.com, Gmail…

[ This post has a FREE BONUS ]

Internet Service Providers (aka ISP) often bundle in their services offering e-mail addresses. But there’s a big problem: if you ever switch provider or stop paying, you’re doomed. I made a couple of phone calls and spoke with some well known Canadian ISP’s customer service and they all told me the same thing: if you change provider, you can’t keep the provided e-mail address. Some may offer you to keep it, but for a fee.

Freedom is free

A free e-mail account on the contrary, is free, it offers the same functionality, long term stability and a LOT more benefits.

With a free e-mail account, mainly you can choose any ISP you want, change whenever you want, you’ll still have the same e-mail address. Move in another country? Not a problem; as long as you have Internet access, you’ll be good to go!

Be smart, start using a free e-mail account from providers like Microsoft (Hotmail, Outlook.com, Live), Google (Gmail) or Yahoo.

IMPORTANT NOTE

Free e-mails however usually have requirements: you usually must stay active. Ex.: Microsoft requires that you sign into your Microsoft account at least once every 270 days, Gmail possibly 9 month too, etc.  So anyone who uses e-mail normally will ipso facto meet the activity requirement anyway. What are you waiting for? Get a free e-mail today!

Yahoo!

I’m still waiting for an official answer from Yahoo!. Since their Terms of Use are quite ambiguous and incomplete about Account inactivity, I can’t recommend it, yet.

EDIT – August 26: Yahoo! Public Relations Manager, Public Policy’s representative replied to my e-mail. Stay tune for more info! :D

EDIT – September 17: I never heard again from Yahoo! since last time. Guess they don’t value much their users after all. Oh well.

Final word

If your e-mail doesn’t look professional (Ex.: whale_killer666@hotmail.com), don’t worry, you don’t have to change or create a new e-mail account. Stay tuned for an upcoming article on how to use e-mail alias!

Enjoy!

FREE BONUS

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Sirus
sirusdark.ca

References
-http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/microsoft-services-agreement ( Clearest services agreement ever )
-http://www.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/program_policies.html ( updated as of September 12, 2008 )
-https://www.google.com/settings/u/0/account/inactive ( Inactivity Account Manager )
-https://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/ ( Section 15, (e) extended periods […] )

How to prevent Outlook.com or Hotmail to redirect to MSN on sign out

Hello crazy world!

I finally decided I would share with you a secret tweak of mine. When I sign out of Outlook.com or Hotmail, I don’t get redirected to MSN. Yes, I don’t.

Firefox is your friend

Step 1. Use a real Internet Browser (aka Firefox).

Step 2. Use NoScript or AdBlock Plus. If you have neither of those installed, Ctrl+Shift+A and do so.

Step 3. Simply deny any scripts from the following domains:

demdex.net

omtrdc.net

Piece of cake. Block these two domains and you shouldn’t get redirected to MSN anymore.

Sign in – sign out. Nothing else. You’re welcome.

EDIT – Workaround

For some reason, this method doesn’t work anymore. Being fedup and wanting a simpler solution, I’ve found one:

Log out from a non e-mail related service, like OneDrive, OneNote, Word/Excel Online, etc. Switch service and logout as usual.

Enjoy!

Sirus
sirusdark.ca

IMPORTANT NOTE
-As much as the name implies it, I don’t use AdBlock Plus to block ads. I’ve never used the filter subscriptions either, not even once. I don’t encourage anyone to block ads without a very good reason. If you DO need to block an ad, it means the website you’re on has a problem. Ads are great. Usually.