Monday, March 16, 2026

Custom Email Domain for Aliases


Custom Email Domain for Aliases

Make it more professional

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How to set up a custom domain for email aliases

Setting up a custom domain (like @yourname.com) for email aliases is a "pro-tier" move for privacy. It gives you complete portability: if you ever decide to leave a service like SimpleLogin or Addy.io, you can just point your domain to a new provider and all your aliases will still work.

Here is how to set it up.

1. Choose Your Alias Provider

Most people choose between SimpleLogin (best if you already use Proton) or Addy.io (excellent open-source option).

  • SimpleLogin: Included with Proton Mail paid plans, or available standalone.
  • Addy.io: Very flexible; requires a "Lite" plan (about $1/month) to use a custom domain.

2. The Setup Process

Regardless of the service you choose, the technical steps are nearly identical:

Step A: Buy a Domain

If you don't have one, buy a domain from a reputable registrar like Porkbun, Namecheap, or Cloudflare.

Tip: If you already use your main domain for business email, use a subdomain for your aliases (e.g., s.yourname.com or mail.yourname.com). This ensures your "burner" aliases don't interfere with your primary inbox.

Step B: Add the Domain to the Service

  1. Log in to SimpleLogin or Addy.io.
  2. Go to the "Domains" tab and click "Add Domain."
  3. Enter your domain name.

Step C: Configure DNS Records (The Technical Part)

The service will provide you with a list of records to copy into your domain registrar's DNS settings. You will typically need to add:

  • TXT Record: For ownership verification (proves you own the domain).
  • MX Records: Directs the mail to the alias service's servers.
  • SPF/DKIM/DMARC: These are "authenticity" records that ensure when you reply from an alias, your email doesn't land in the recipient's spam folder.

3. Enable the "Catch-All" Feature

This is the most powerful part of owning the domain. Once "Catch-All" is enabled in your settings:

  • No pre-setup needed: You don't have to "create" an alias before using it.
  • On-the-fly: At a checkout counter or on a website, you can just say homedepot@yourdomain.com.
  • Automatic: The service will automatically create that alias and start forwarding it the moment the first email arrives.

Why this is better for you

  • Professionalism: contact@jsmith.com looks much better than jsmith.x82ks@passmail.net.
  • No "Lock-in": If SimpleLogin were to disappear tomorrow, you still own the domain. You just move it to a different provider, and every account you ever signed up for stays linked to you.
  • Easy Management: You can see exactly who is selling your data. If you get spam at netflix@yourdomain.com but it's coming from a "Travel Deals" company, you know exactly who leaked it.
Next post: a walk through the specific DNS settings for a particular registrar like Cloudflare or Namecheap?

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Protect Your Email With Aliases


Protect Your Email With Aliases

It is easier than you think

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Email Alias

Using an email alias service is one of the most effective ways to protect your digital identity. Think of it like a "digital burner phone" for your inbox: you give out a unique alias to every website, and those emails are forwarded to your real address.

If a site gets hacked (or starts sending spam), you simply "turn off" that specific alias without ever having to change your primary email.

1. Top Recommendations for 2026

Depending on how much control you want, here are the best options currently available:

ServiceBest ForKey Feature
SimpleLoginMost RobustOwned by Proton; high security, works with PGP.
DuckDuckGo EmailEasiest/FreeRemoves hidden trackers from emails automatically.
Addy.ioHigh CustomizationGreat open-source option with very flexible pricing.
Firefox RelaySpeedBuilt directly into the Firefox browser for 1-click aliases.

2. How to Set Up an Alias Service

The process is similar for most services. Here is how to get started with two of the most popular choices:

Option A: DuckDuckGo Email Protection (Simplest)

This is completely free and requires no new app if you already use their browser or extension.

  1. Sign Up: Go to duckduckgo.com/email on a browser with the DuckDuckGo extension or in their mobile app.
  2. Create your "Duck" address: You'll get a primary address like yourname@duck.com.
  3. Use it: Whenever a site asks for an email, you can use a Private Duck Address (e.g., random-word-123@duck.com).
  4. Forwarding: Any mail sent there is stripped of trackers and forwarded to your real inbox.

Option B: SimpleLogin (Most Advanced)

Perfect if you want a professional setup or use multiple devices.

  1. Register: Create an account at SimpleLogin.io.
  2. Link Mailbox: Enter your real email address where you want to receive mail.
  3. Install the Extension: Add the SimpleLogin extension to your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or Safari).
  4. Generate on the fly: When you click into an "Email" field on any website, the SimpleLogin icon will appear. Click it to generate a unique alias for that specific site

3. Pro-Tips for Your Workflow

  1. Pair with your Password Manager: Since you use tools like KeePassXC, keep a note of which alias you used for which site inside the entry for that account. Some managers like Bitwarden even have built-in integrations to generate these aliases for you.
  2. The "Reply" Feature: If you need to email a company back, you can reply directly from your personal inbox. The alias service will intercept it and "re-mask" it so the recipient only sees the alias address, not your real one.
  3. One Site, One Alias: Never use the same alias for more than one service. This prevents companies from "cross-referencing" your data to build a profile on you.

Next post: How to set up a custom domain for email aliases.

Check some of our websites

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Attention bloggers & website owners, follow.it is in your interest. You will get many more recurring visitors with follow.it.
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Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Have you been pwned? Here's how to find out!


How To Know If You've Been Pwned

It's easy to find out!

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Cybersecurity & Hacking

In the tech world, "pwned" refers to a system, device, or account being successfully compromised or controlled by an outside party.

  • A "Pwned" Device: If a hacker gains administrative access to your computer, they "own" it (it's "pwned").
  • Pwn2Own: This is a famous annual hacking competition where researchers try to find vulnerabilities in software and devices to "pwn" them for prize money.

Checking if your information has been compromised is a straightforward process. Because data breaches are so common, it is usually a matter of when your data was leaked, not if.

  1. The Industry Standard: Have I Been Pwned?

    2. The most reliable way to check is to visit haveibeenpwned.com. This site is run by security expert Troy Hunt and is the primary database used by browsers and security tools worldwide.

    • How to use it: Simply enter your email address (or phone number in international format).
    • The Results:
      • Green: You're in the clear for known major breaches (though you should still check periodically).
      • Red: Your data was found in a specific breach. The site will list exactly which company was hacked (e.g., Adobe, LinkedIn, or a random forum) and what kind of data was stolen (passwords, birthdates, etc.).

  2. Built-in Browser & Tool Checks

    3. Many modern tools have this "pwned" check built directly into their interface:

    • Password Managers: Most reputable password managers (like KeePassXC, Bitwarden, or 1Password) have a feature to "Check for Compromised Passwords." They will cross-reference your saved logins against known breaches without you having to manually type them into a website.
    • Web Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, and Safari now have "Safety Checks" in their settings that will alert you if any of your saved passwords have appeared in a leak.

What to do if you ARE "pwned"?

If you find your email in a breach, don't panic—it's usually an old leak. However, you should take these steps immediately:

  • Change the Password: Change the password for the service that was breached. If you used that same password anywhere else (especially for your email or bank), change those immediately too.
  • Enable 2FA: Set up Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your most important accounts. This ensures that even if a hacker has your password, they still can't get in without a second code from an app or a physical key.
  • Use a Password Manager: It is impossible to remember unique, 20-character passwords for every site. Using a dedicated manager allows you to generate and store complex passwords so that a breach on one site doesn't give a hacker the "master key" to your entire digital life.
  • Watch for Phishing: After a breach, you are more likely to receive "phishing" emails or texts that look like they are from your bank or a tech company. Be extra cautious about clicking links in unexpected messages.

Next post: will explain how to set up an email alias service to keep your primary address private in the future?

Check some of our websites

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Sunday, March 8, 2026

Why use Follow.It?


Why use follow.it instead of a mailing list?

Which one is the best?

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Choosing between follow.it and a traditional mailing list (like Mailchimp or Substack) really comes down to whether you want to manage a "broadcast" or facilitate "delivery."

While a mailing list is a proactive marketing tool, follow.it is more of a sophisticated content distribution service. Here is the breakdown of why you might pick it over the traditional route.

1. Automation vs. Manual Campaigns

The biggest difference is the "set it and forget it" factor.

Mailing Lists: Usually require you to design a template, write a subject line, and manually hit "send" or set up complex automation workflows for every new post.

follow.it: It hooks into your RSS feed. The moment you publish a post on your site, follow.it automatically formats and sends the update to your followers. No extra work is required on your end.

2. Follower Privacy and Control

follow.it is designed with a "pro-consumer" mindset, which can actually lead to higher trust and subscription rates.

Aggregated Feeds: Followers can choose to receive updates via email, but they can also use RSS, Telegram, or even their own "Follow" page.

Granular Filters: Users can filter your feed. For example, if you blog about "Tech" and "Cooking," a follower can choose to only receive your "Tech" posts. Traditional mailing lists usually send everything to everyone unless you spend hours segmenting your list.

3. Better Deliverability (The "White Label" Benefit)

Managing your own mail server or using a cheap email tool often leads to your updates landing in the Promotions or Spam tabs.

follow.it focuses heavily on deliverability. Since they are a dedicated delivery service rather than a marketing "blast" tool, their sender reputation is often higher, ensuring your latest post actually hits the inbox.

4. Cost Efficiency

Mailing Lists: Most services charge based on the number of subscribers. As you grow, your monthly bill can skyrocket even if you aren't selling anything.

follow.it: Offers a very generous free tier that includes basic features and unlimited followers, making it ideal for bloggers, news sites, and hobbyists who want to scale without a massive overhead.

Quick Comparison Table

Featurefollow.itTraditional Mailing List
EffortAutomatic (RSS-based)Manual (Campaign-based)
ContentLatest updates/postsNewsletters, promos, blasts
User ChoiceHigh (Filters & Channels)Low (All or nothing)
Setup5 minutesHours (Design & Strategy)
Best ForBloggers & News SitesE-commerce & Sales Teams

Is it right for you?

If you are looking to build a sales funnel with beautiful, custom-designed newsletters and "buy now" buttons, stick with a mailing list.

However, if your goal is to increase traffic to your website by ensuring your readers never miss a new post, follow.it is the more efficient, hands-off choice.

Attention bloggers & website owners, follow.it is in your interest. You will get many more recurring visitors with follow.it.
Check it out here Follow it.

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Fast loading websites


FREE Satellite / Transponder Lists

Made possible by your generous donations

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Many people ask me "why does https://ivystoneplace.com load so fast?"

The fast loading speed of ivystoneplace.com can be attributed to several technical design choices that prioritize efficiency over complexity. Here is a breakdown of why it performs so well:

1. Minimalist "Static" Design

The site is built with a very "light" architecture. Unlike modern heavy websites that rely on bloated frameworks (like heavy React or Angular builds), this site uses a straightforward structure that resembles a Static Site.

  • Low HTTP Requests: The page doesn't try to load dozens of external scripts, tracking pixels, or heavy CSS libraries. Each additional request adds "round-trip" time to the server; because this site has so few, it finishes loading almost instantly.
  • Clean HTML: The source code is simple and direct, allowing the browser to parse the layout and text without having to calculate complex JavaScript logic first.

2. Lack of Third-Party "Bloat"

Most modern websites are slowed down by "third-party scripts" (ads, advanced analytics, heatmaps, and social media embeds).

  • No Heavy Tracking: Ivystoneplace lacks the heavy tracking cookies and marketing scripts that usually "pause" a site from rendering while they fetch data from other servers.
  • Direct Assets: The images and files are hosted directly, meaning the browser doesn't have to jump between multiple domains to gather the content.

3. Effective Caching & Server Response

The site appears to be well-optimized at the server level.

  • Fast TTFB (Time to First Byte): The server hosting the site responds quickly to the initial request. Since the content is mostly text and links, the server doesn't have to perform heavy database queries (like a massive WordPress site would) before sending the data to you.
  • Text-Heavy Content: Text is the "cheapest" thing to send over the internet. Because the site's value is in its data, it prioritizes information over high-resolution background videos or parallax effects.

4. Optimized Image Use

While the site does have images for products, they are:

  • Small in Scale: They aren't oversized 4K images being shrunk down by code; they appear to be appropriately sized for their display area.
  • Synchronous Loading: The layout doesn't "jump" around as things load because the assets are small enough to be delivered in the first few packets of data.

Summary

In a "race" between websites, ivystoneplace.com is like a stripped-down race car. It has removed all the "weight" (complex animations, heavy scripts, and advertising trackers) to ensure that the core information is delivered to the user as quickly as possible.

Would you like a light weight site that loads fast?

Contact me. I can make your current website load faster or I can build a new website for you.

If your current hosting provider is part of the problem, I can host your website on our servers.

Links

The free satellite list brought to you by Ivy Stone Place and our generous contributors and sponsors.

Our largest contributors:

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Sunday, March 1, 2026

Update your satellite list now, March 1, 2026


FREE Satellite / Transponder Lists

Made possible by your generous donations

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Ivy Stone Place
March 1, 2026
Sat / TP List Details
Satellites:226
Transponders:4636
DVB-S2:3766
DVB-S:870
Vertical Polarity:1927
Horizontal Polarity:2007
RH Polarity:362
LH Polarity:340
PDF Pages:93
PDF Size:1014.9 kB
EPUB Size:35.8 kB

Satellite / Transponder list is now in EPUB as well as PDF. EPUB greatly reduces the size of the file.

This is a reference list (not to be loaded into any meter), download to your PC, laptop, smartphone, etc and carry this reference list with you.

This list contains:

  • C-band
  • Ku-band
  • Ka-band - as a reminder, most meters, receivers, and LNBs in use will not do Ka band.
  • Active and inactive transponders

Want to know when new Satellite lists are released?
Sign up for one or more of our Newsletters.

  

Attention bloggers & website owners, follow.it is in your interest. You will get many more recurring visitors with follow.it.
Check it out here Follow it.

Links

The free satellite list brought to you by Ivy Stone Place and our generous contributors and sponsors.

Our largest contributors:

Attention bloggers & website owners, follow.it is in your interest. You will get many more recurring visitors with follow.it.
Check it out here Follow it.

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Saturday, February 14, 2026

Satellite List Update, Feb. 14, 2026

Ivy Stone Place Satellite Lists

Worldwide Satellite Code / Transponder List

Satellite Lists
Febuary 14, 2026
Sat / TP List Details
Satellites:226
Transponders:4636
DVB-S2:3766
DVB-S:870
Vertical Polarity:1927
Horizontal Polarity:2007
RH Polarity:362
LH Polarity:340
PDF Pages:93
PDF Size:1015.0 kB
EPUB Size:35.8 kB

Satellite / Transponder list is now in EPUB as well as PDF. EPUB greatly reduces the size of the file.

This is a reference list (not to be loaded into any meter), download to your PC, laptop, smartphone, etc and carry this reference list with you.

This list contains:

  • C-band
  • Ku-band
  • Ka-band - as a reminder, most meters, receivers, and LNBs in use will not do Ka band.
  • Active and inactive transponders

Want to know when new Satellite lists are released?
Sign up for one or more of our Newsletters.

  

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Custom Email Domain for Aliases