When you want to download something, for example an application from a Web site, nine times out of 10 you are asked for your e-mail address. While a few sites perform no e-mail address verification whatsoever, most smart sites either send a custom generated short term download link or some kind of activation key that is confirmed on installation to cross reference to a given address.

These methods are to ensure that you are really at the address you claim to be at for the purposes of sending your marketing pitches. In many cases, the consequence of that confirmation is a stream of messages and newsletters that you most likely don’t want. To solve this, a class of products has emerged that provide real but temporary, disposable e-mail addresses that last long enough for the verification process to be completed.

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Spam Gourmet is a good example. This service is free and allows you to set up an account where you specify the address the disposable address is to be relayed to and a username (for example, “nospamtome”). For a specific disposable address you pick a keyword (for example “PhoenixUniversity”) and the number of messages the disposable account can receive (say, 10; 20 is the maximum). These parameters become part of a disposable address such as:

phoenixuniversity.10.nospamtome@spamgourmet.com

The next 10 messages sent to that address will be routed to your real address after which the disposable address will return bounces. Spam Gourmet also provides an Advanced Mode that allows you to specify trusted senders, watchwords, and so on. Finally, Spam Gourmet also provides a Web mail interface so that you can send messages from the disposable address.