What is spam? How to clean your inbox of unwanted emails
Have you been receiving annoying emails, instant messages, text messages, voicemails, and other digitally distributed messages that you never requested? They can all be described with one word: spam.
What is spam?
Spam is any form of unsolicited communication sent in bulk (bulk email). Its most common form is a commercial email sent to a large number of addresses at once (unsolicited commercial email), but it's also possible to send spam via instant messaging, text messaging, social media, or even voicemail. Sending spam is illegal in most jurisdictions.
One of the most common ways to spread unsolicited content is through the use of botnets: large armies of infected "zombie" devices. Chain letters and fake messages are sometimes also considered spam, although they differ in that they are generally transmitted by people with good intentions.
Why am I receiving unwanted emails?
You might be receiving unwanted emails because cybercriminals have obtained your email address and are spamming you in the hopes of getting a response. It's also possible you subscribed to a company's marketing emails but no longer wish to receive them.
What happens if you click on a spam email?
Opening an unwanted email is usually safe; simply close the email without clicking on any links or attachments, mark it as spam, and delete it. You'll be safe as long as you don't click on anything within the email. To ensure nothing was downloaded by accidentally clicking on the email, run a scan with your antivirus software to guarantee your device's security.
How can I identify a spam email?
Spam emails are often identified by the use of illegitimate email addresses, explicit or illegal content, intimidation tactics, typos, and misleading information. If you are unsure about the content of an email or its origin, do not click on any element of it and block the sender; mark it as spam and delete it.
How to avoid spam and clean your inbox?
1. Check the fine print
Almost every company will try to get you to subscribe to their newsletters or exclusive online clubs for discounts and breaking news; however, be sure to check the website before signing up. Only subscribe to companies you trust and genuinely want to learn more about, and be careful not to share your email address with any company that asks for it.
2. Mark as spam
Marking emails as spam is a very useful feature offered by most email applications, as the software detects which types of emails it considers spam and automatically removes them from your inbox so you don't have to see them. Regardless of the email client you use, there will be a setting that automatically sends spam messages to the junk mail folder. Below, we'll show you how to do this with three of the most popular email clients.
Apple Mail on Mac.
You can turn on the spam filter in Settings by selecting Mail > Preferences, clicking Junk Mail, and making sure the "Turn on Junk Mail Filter" option is selected. From here, you can configure messages as spam or not, and each time you do, the spam filter improves so Mail can better identify unwanted emails.
Outlook:
When reviewing junk mail, select the one you want to mark as junk mail and, at the top of the email client, select Junk Mail > Junk Mail (or Spam > Spam) to move the message to the Junk Mail or Spam folder.
Gmail:
The best thing about Gmail is that it automatically identifies spam and suspicious emails and sends them to a specific spam label. You can also manually mark an unwanted message as spam by clicking the "Mark as spam" button at the top of the email client when you have an email selected.
For more information, consult the technical support of these email providers.
3. Do not interact with emails
While it may be tempting to read and respond to spam emails, especially when they appear personalized and addressed directly to you, interacting with them is actually what the criminals want you to do. By doing so, they've captured your attention and can now try to extract more personal information. Furthermore, you'll have confirmed that your email is active, making you a target for future attacks.
4. Delete spam without reading it
The most effective way to avoid junk mail and spam is to delete it without opening or reading it. Many spam emails clearly appear spam in the subject line, or the email address they originate from contains typos, excessive use of numbers, or jumbled and incoherent words. If you notice these characteristics in the emails you receive, don't open them; simply mark them as spam and delete them.
5. Privacy is key
Do not reveal your email address or any personal information on public online forums or social media. Spammers scour these sites for data to use illegally. If you post personal information on a social media profile, make sure your privacy settings are set to maximum.
6. Block specific senders
Just like marking emails as spam (as explained in tip two), every email client will have features for blocking specific senders. Simply select the unwanted email you received and click on the sender's name to bring up more options that will allow you to block them. You should now stop receiving emails from this sender.
7. Use different email addresses
Having multiple email addresses can be overwhelming when you consider the need to remember a strong, unique password for each account; however, it's well worth the effort. By using separate email addresses for personal matters, shopping lists or newsletters, and other business-related tasks, you can keep sensitive data, such as your banking information, separate from the email address most likely to receive spam.
8. Set up a new email address
If you're still receiving an overwhelming amount of spam after trying all the above steps, you can create a new email address and deactivate the old one. Before deleting your account completely, be sure to forward all important information and emails to your new address so you can continue accessing them. Once you delete your old account, you won't be able to recover them.
9. Use a third-party spam filter
Basic email filters don't always detect phishing campaigns or malicious messages disguised as irresistible offers. That's why having a security solution that analyzes your emails before they reach your inbox is key.
ESET Home Security integrates anti-phishing protection and advanced filters that block dangerous emails, fake links, and dubious senders, helping you avoid scams while shopping online.
Therefore, to conclude this article, we invite you to protect your email and data with a reliable security solution like ESET Home Security, and take advantage of our seasonal offers to stay safe and browse with complete peace of mind.
ESET Home Security integrates anti-phishing protection and advanced filters that block dangerous emails, fake links, and dubious senders, helping you avoid scams while shopping online.
Therefore, to conclude this article, we invite you to protect your email and data with a reliable security solution like ESET Home Security, and take advantage of our seasonal offers to stay safe and browse with complete peace of mind.
