Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#1

Post by tyleo » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:00 PM UTC

I use distinct emails for every service. I've noticed that I receive more spam through the email I've put in Hacker New's "email" field than any other service. The field says, "Only admins see your email below. To share publicly, add to the 'about' box."

Has anyone else experienced this?

Re: Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#2

Post by Bender » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:02 PM UTC

Has anyone else experienced this?

Not I. I also use canary email aliases. Perhaps someone brute forced your login? Perhaps email dang and share what IP addresses/ranges your login should show up from and ask if any logins do not match those addresses. hn@ycombinator.com

Do you by chance use a HN specific UI App on your phone? The concept of those has always made my spidey senses tingle.

Re: Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#3

Post by tyleo » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:06 PM UTC

Bender wrote: post #2

Has anyone else experienced this? Not I. I also use canary email aliases. Perhaps someone brute forced your login? Perhaps email dang and share what IP addresses/ranges your login should show up from and ask if any logins do not match those addresses. hn@ycombinator.com Do you by chance use a HN specific UI App on your phone? The concept of those has always made my spidey senses tingle.

Come to think of it, I used the same email address at YCombinator's https://www.workatastartup.com

I'll change it on that end and see if it's coming from there.

Re: Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#4

Post by remopulcini » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:32 PM UTC

[flagged]

Re: Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#5

Post by theandrewbailey » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 3:37 PM UTC

I canary trap my email addresses too. No, I haven't had any spam on the one I use to login. The one mildly suggested in my profile about field isn't it.

Re: Ask HN: Is Hacker News selling your email?

#6

Post by btrettel » Sun, Jun 28, 2026, 4:07 PM UTC

I also use a unique email address for Hacker News, and I get no spam to that address.

The (different) address I use for the HN jobs threads gets only spam, though.