What do companies know about you? How your email tracks you
Have you ever searched for shoes online, only to see ads for them on every website you visit afterwards? That's no coincidence. Your email address is like a serial number that allows companies to track you across the entire internet. In this article, we'll show you how it works and how you can regain control over your privacy.
How a single email address connects your online footprints
Imagine your email address as your personal online identifier. Every time you provide it, companies can link all your activities into one detailed history.
Here's how it works:
- Registering with a store - the company knows what you buy and how often
- Signing up for a newsletter - it tracks what articles you read
- Logging in via social media - connects your accounts across different services
- Mobile apps - collect data about your habits
What do companies know thanks to your email address?
Your profile is more detailed than you think:
- Shopping preferences - favorite brands, shopping frequency, average spending
- Website behavior - which products you view the longest, what you add to your cart
- Connections between accounts - that the same person uses Netflix, Allegro, and Spotify
- Lifestyle information - whether you're a student, parent, traveler
- Financial habits - how often you shop online, your typical price ranges
How to protect yourself? Practical ways to safeguard your privacy
You can effectively hide your real email address. Hetman Relay creates relays that act as anonymous intermediaries between you and companies.
How does it work in practice? An example with Anna:
Anna always used the same email address. One day she was looking for a gift for her sister - she browsed jewelry websites, cookbooks, and sports equipment. Within hours, she saw ads for exactly those products on all her social media platforms. Her email address had become the key that connected all her searches.
When Anna started using relays, the situation changed:
- She used one relay for the jewelry store
- A different one for the online bookstore
- Another one for the sports store
The companies could no longer connect her activities into a single profile. Each of them saw a "different person."
How does Hetman Relay help regain your anonymity?
Relays aren't just protection against spam - they're primarily protection for your online identity.
- They prevent tracking - every registration has a unique address
- They separate your profiles - the store doesn't know you're also subscribed to that newsletter
- They give you control - you know which company uses which address
- They protect against data breaches - if a database leaks, scammers won't get your real email
Summary: Regain your anonymity online
Your email address is more than just a communication method - it's the key to your digital identity. Companies use it to build detailed profiles and show you personalized ads.
You don't have to accept this level of surveillance. Hetman Relay gives you a simple way to regain control. Start using relays for new registrations and gradually replace your main address in existing accounts.
Your privacy is worth this small change. Create your first relay today and stop companies from knowing everything about you.