PPI (Email address) not being redacted when there is no domain

Hornblower409 14,690 Reputation points
2026-08-18T09:45:20.27+00:00

Not asking for action, just advice.

Have seen a few of these recently. It's obviously an email address but lacks a domain. I assume that's why it gets past the censors. Not sure I want even more things to get asterisked out, but if I was trolling the forums looking for emails to Spam, it wouldn't take much to recognize these and make them whole.

Am I just being overly cautious? Or is this a real concern?

e.g.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5978066/not-receiving-some-hotmail-emails-if-i-have-the-se
(screenshot removed to protect other user's privacy)

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5977947/i-am-unable-to-open-my-******@hotmail-com-account

(screenshot removed to protect other user's privacy)

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JuliaMarvin 22,275 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-18T10:22:44.47+00:00

Suggest using the Report button and select 'Personal or sensitive user information' next time you come across such a PII issue ;)

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CrazyKats 19,245 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-18T17:38:33.69+00:00

Hi Hornblower,

The censor doesn't pick up PII.

Usually a Mod does and edits it out.

Like Julia said if you catch one post

a thread about it.

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DaveM121 (2) 16,385 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2026-08-18T10:11:00.58+00:00

Thanks @Hornblower409 PII removed from those threads

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