“I created an email account a few months back that includes my birthday in the address. Is that a security or privacy risk? I’ve used that email for things like Facebook and other online accounts.”Recently asked by a family member

Small decisions—like the email address you choose—can have a big impact on your online security. 

Including your birthday in your email address is a common habit, but it comes with privacy and security concerns. Here’s a breakdown of the risks, plus practical steps to keep your digital footprint secure.

Why Avoid Using Identifiable Information in Your Email Address?

It’s generally wise to steer clear of including personal information—like your full name, birthdate, or location—in your email address. Here’s why:

1. Protecting Your Personal Info: Including your birthday in an email makes it easier for someone to gather sensitive details about you. Scammers could use this information for identity theft or social engineering attacks—like answering security questions or tricking you into giving up more information.
2. Data Breach Risks: Your birthdate is likely already out there—whether through data breaches or public records. Pairing it with an email address can make it easier for cybercriminals to link your details across different accounts and platforms.

How Significant Is This Privacy Risk?

On a scale of 1 to 10, using your birthdate in an email address rates around a 4 or 5 in terms of privacy risk. It’s not a top-tier threat, but it’s worth addressing if you’re aiming for better overall security. 

Focus on higher-priority actions first, like:

1. Audit Your Passwords: Ensure all your passwords are unique, complex, and not reused. This prevents a breach in one account from compromising others.
2. Stay Vigilant Against Phishing: Watch out for emails or messages that attempt to gather your personal data, especially those that try to create a sense of urgency. Phishing is still one of the most effective tactics cybercriminals use.
3. Check Your Online Footprint: Take time to review the personal info you’ve shared on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and others. Adjust privacy settings to limit what’s visible—like your birthday, location, or phone number.

Should You Delete the Email Account?

You don’t necessarily have to delete the account. Instead, consider phasing it out gradually:

1. Create a New, Anonymous Email Address: Set up a new email address that doesn’t contain any personal info. Use this as your primary account moving forward.
2. Enable Email Forwarding: Configure your old address to automatically forward emails to your new one. This way, you won’t miss any important messages while you transition.
3. Update Your Accounts: When you access accounts that use the old email, update them with your new address. For instance, when resetting your Facebook password, switch to the new email as part of the process.
4. Start Responding from the New Address: If someone reaches out to you via the old email, respond from the new one. This way, they’ll start using your updated contact info.

Bonus Tip

Use Apple’s Hide My Email for Extra Privacy

If you’re an Apple user, you have access to a feature called Hide My Email—a powerful tool for enhancing privacy. This feature lets you create random, unique email addresses that forward messages to your actual inbox, keeping your real address hidden from websites or apps you sign up for.

How It Works: When you sign up for a new account or service, Hide My Email generates a random address, such as xyz123@icloud.com, that forwards to your real email. You can create as many of these aliases as you need, and if one of them starts receiving spam or if you want to stop using a service, you can simply delete that alias without affecting your main inbox.

Why It’s Valuable: This feature adds an extra layer of privacy by preventing companies and potential scammers from accessing your primary email address. It also makes your digital footprint less traceable across different platforms, reducing the risk of your data being correlated through breaches or leaks. Hide My Email is a simple but effective way to keep your real contact information out of the hands of marketers, spammers, and bad actors.

Bottom Line: A Manageable Risk, but Worth Fixing

Using your birthdate in an email address isn’t the highest privacy risk out there, but it’s something to consider if you want a tighter security setup. Transitioning to an email that doesn’t give away personal details is a simple yet effective step to protect yourself. Pair this with strong passwords and a watchful eye against phishing, and you’ll be better equipped for a safer online experience.