Google’s upcoming Shielded Email feature is supposed to help people manage spam by generating random email addresses when they sign up, which can be stored in the autofill of Gboard. But users are not necessarily forced to use the feature to avoid spam. Users already possess their own tools and techniques to manage unwanted mail easily.

Gmail’s Built-in Filters: Gmail has excellent filtering tools that allow one to manage emails from other email addresses. Users can set up more email addresses and apply filters to group emails from such addresses into specific folders. This keeps the original inbox clean but offers access to all the messages.

Alternative Email Addresses: Making alternative email addresses for services that can send spam is a common strategy. These addresses can be made to be treated as aliases by Gmail so that all emails from a single account can be received. By setting up filters, emails sent to such secondary addresses can be automatically routed into particular folders.

Third-Party Email Security Solutions: Organizations and companies have numerous sophisticated email security solutions. Some of the solutions like Proofpoint Email Security and Protection, Avanan Cloud Email Security, and Valimail offer comprehensive protection from spam, phishing, and other malicious threats via email. Most of these solutions include features like malware detection, blocking impersonator emails, and DMARC enforcement.

WordPress Anti-Spam Plugins: Site owners have access to good spam form submission and comment protection through plugins like WPForms, Akismet, and Titan Anti-Spam & Security. These plugins use techniques like CAPTCHA, hidden form fields, and database checks to identify and block spam.

Use Alternate Addresses: Create separate email accounts for services likely to spam. This keeps the primary email inbox tidy and reduces the possibility of spam from entering it.

Employ Filters: Use email client filters to categorize automatically messages from alternate addresses into separate folders. This allows important messages to not be lost while keeping the inbox organized.

Implement CAPTCHA and Anti-Spam Plugins: For websites and blogs, installation of CAPTCHA or anti-spam plugins can significantly reduce the incidence of spam form submission and comments.

Implement Advanced Email Security Solutions: For businesses, investing in detailed email security solutions can provide solid defense against spam and other email threats.

In general, while Google’s Shielded Email feature promotes enhanced spam management, consumers already possess sufficient means to filter out spam efficiently using existing tools and methods. Through Gmail’s built-in filters, different email accounts, or advanced security tools, there are multiple ways to purge inboxes as well as secure oneself.