Cleanrelay

Cleanrelay is a privacy-focused email relay service designed to help users send and receive emails without exposing their real IP addresses or personal information. The service operates by acting as an intermediary between senders and recipients, masking the origin of emails to enhance anonymity. It is particularly useful for individuals seeking to protect their online privacy, bypass censorship, or communicate securely in environments where email surveillance is common.

Cleanrelay does not store user data permanently and employs encryption protocols to secure communications. Users typically access the service through a web interface or API, where they can compose and send emails without revealing their true identities. The platform supports standard email protocols such as SMTP, allowing integration with existing email clients or workflows.

The service gained attention in the early 2000s as part of the broader privacy tools movement, alongside other anonymity-focused projects like Tor and Mixmaster. While it was widely used by activists, journalists, and whistleblowers, its popularity declined as more sophisticated privacy tools emerged. Cleanrelay was eventually discontinued in 2010 due to declining support and maintenance challenges, though its legacy remains as a notable example of early privacy-focused email solutions.

Cleanrelay’s approach relied on a decentralized network of volunteer-run relays, which forwarded emails in a chain to obscure the sender’s identity. This method, while effective for its time, was limited by the technical constraints of the era, including slower speeds and potential points of failure within the relay network. Despite its eventual shutdown, the principles behind Cleanrelay influenced later privacy-focused email services and remain relevant in discussions about digital anonymity and secure communication.