Apple plans to change its Hide My Email privacy feature that could make it less effective

Apple plans to change Hide My Email so that privately generated relay addresses will move from @icloud.com to @private.icloud.com in the coming weeks. The update is likely to make anonymous sign-ups easier for websites and apps to detect and block, reducing the feature’s effectiveness for users who rely on privacy-preserving email aliases. Existing addresses will keep working and forwarding mail, but Apple says providers may need to update filtering so legitimate messages still reach users. The change sparked criticism from users on Reddit, and Apple did not explain the rationale. For markets, the news is mildly negative for Apple’s privacy positioning and could raise concerns about product trust and user experience, though the direct financial impact is limited.