The update, which is being called Shielded Email, creates a unique single-time address which is linked to your main primary email account. This can be used when setting up new services or filling in forms so random firms never know your actual address. That should mean far less clutter arriving in your inbox.

Google is developing 'Shielded Email' for Gmail to protect users from spam. This feature allows the creation of temporary email aliases that forward messages to the primary email, ensuring safer sign-ups for apps and reducing the risks associated with sharing personal email addresses.