anonymous remailer

Service that allows Internet users to post to Usenet and send e-mail without revealing their true identity or e-mail address. To send an anonymous message, a user first sends the message to the remailer, which strips all identifying information from the message before sending it on to its specified destination, identified only as coming from the anonymous server.

The ability to post anonymously also removes user accountability, and so these servers are controversial. However, they provide a useful function on the Net in support groups and other areas where the ability to post anonymously allows people to speak freely about confidential matters without the risk of being identified by friends, family, or anyone else.

The more elaborate servers use encryption to make the message even more difficult to trace.