Removing real name from e-mail headers

Question

Level 1

4 points

Removing real name from e-mail headers

Is there any way to prevent Apple Mail from placing real names into the e-mail header?

Changing all the real names in the address book seems to defeat the purpose of an address book. After changing real names, syncing with the cell phone would probably create a mess.

When manually editing out the real name while sending an e-mail, Apple mail automatically reinserts the real name every time.

The only way I've found is to place an additional character into the e-mail address, and then manually edit the character out when sending and e-mail. Apple Mail then doesn't recognize the address and doesn't reinsert the real name.

I'm hoping there is a better solution.

Posted on Oct 6, 2007 8:52 AM

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Answer 1

m.bode

Level 4

3,385 points

Oct 7, 2007 11:27 PM in response to memcpy

Apple Mail sends out the mail with the "real name" specified in the account set up (check in Mail preferences). If there is no "real name" given, no one will be sent.

However, everytime Mail displays a message, it looks up the addresses of that mail and if it finds a matching entry in Address Book, it displays the real names from Address Book. This does not mean, that there any real names are sent out - it's just used for displaying.

Check it yourself - get a free email address anywhere you like and send out a mail to confirm, that Mail does not send out any names.

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Answer 2

memcpy Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 10, 2007 7:06 PM in response to m.bode

So far, the real name has been there for everyone in my address book, not just me. I don't want to remove all the real names from my address book.

If I send mail from Apple Mail, and look at raw source of the sent message in Sent Messages, the real names are there. Also, if I CC myself and look at the raw header, the real names are also there.

I've found that you can manually edit the address, and replace the real name with an underscore or something. It prevents Apple Mail from replacing the real name. Seems silly, but it's another workaround...

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Answer 3

Oct 11, 2007 4:04 AM in response to memcpy

Umm, pardon the silly question, but why do you want to do this? Surely when you send someone an email there is no need to try to hide their name from them - they probably know it? And if "someone" is a bunch of people, stick the addresses in the Bcc field - that is what it is for.

AK

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Answer 4

memcpy Author

Level 1

4 points

Oct 11, 2007 5:44 PM in response to Austin Kinsella1

Privacy. Many of my friends intentionally use pseudonyms instead of their real names in their e-mail address. Attaching their real name to the e-mail then completely contradicts their reasons for using a pseudonym in the first place. When I send an e-mail to a friend, they already know their own name, so I don't see a reason to incude it.

Also, I just started using a Mac recently. With a brand new address, only three recipients, and my real name in the header, I'm already getting spam with my real name in it.

I don't know of any reasons (with personal e-mail) to actually include real names in the headers.

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