You may know them as Spam email’s other know them as junk mail, most times these are unsolicited bulk sent email messages delivered to your inbox. Most times, you receive email spam or marketing messages regularly.
Spam messages most time come in from illegitimate email addresses and can contain explicit or illegal content. These emails use scare tactics, typos, and misleading information and are sent from an anonymous sender. If they include an unsubscribe link, it most likely will be embedded with malware. If you click on it, you could be giving cybercriminals access to your computer or other devices.
Some ways to reduce the flow of unwanted emails are below.
Mark as spam
Most email services (Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook, and Apple) have set up algorithms that filter out spam and junk by putting something in a folder. But it does not always work. Sometimes they find their way to your inbox. Don’t delete the message—mark it as spam.
By moving the suspicious email to spam, it will send it to the spam folder. By marking it as Spam, it is not let into your inbox again. So that if you should receive another email from this address, it will automatically go to your spam file.
How to mark spam in Gmail—
Click on the square next to the email---Click the stop sign icon.
How to mark spam in Microsoft Outlook
Click on the box next to the email—Click on Junk Email Options in the menu—Click on the Block Button.
How to mark spam in Yahoo! Mail
Click the box next to email or on multiple emails—Chick on the shield icon
How to mark spam in Apple Mail
Click the email message—Click on the “X” Junk Mail or the trash can icon.
Delete spam emails.
Believe it or not, there is a golden rule for deleting spam emails. If it looks like a spam message, most likely, it is a spam email. So, MAKE SURE TO DELETE WITHOUT CLICKING ON ANYTHING or DOWNLOADING ANYTHING.
Some spam emails have software in them that tells the sender that you have opened the email to know that you have an account so that they will continue to send you emails.
Some malware programs can take your email address to resend spam messages under the guise of an actual address. An example of this would be getting a message from someone you know.
Below are some options for deleting spam emails for good, so they don’t come back.
How to delete spam from Gmail
1. Click on the empty box to check the message.
2. In the top menu, click on the stop sign.
3. From the dropdown menu, click REPORT SPAM.
4. Click the Delete ALL SPAM MESSAGES NOW option.
For more detailed instructions are on Google’s support page.
How to delete spam from Microsoft Outlook
1. In the inbox, click the email.
2. At the top menu, click on the Junk Mail option
3. Click on the Junk Email tab that is sound in the side menu.
4. Click the trash can to an empty folder.
For more detailed instructions are on Microsoft Outlook’s support page.
How to delete spam from Yahoo! Mail
1. Check the box next to the email.
2. Find the Shield in the above menu.
3. Click the Report Spam option
4. Go to the spam folder.
5. Click on the Delete Email option
For more detailed instructions are found on Yahoo! Mail’s support page.
How to delete spam from Apple Mail
1. Go to the Junk Mail option on the left side of the menu.
2. Highlight the message that you want.
3. Click on the metal trash can icon.
For more detailed instructions are found on Apple Mail’s support page.
5 Key factors to look for in an email that looks suspicious.
· Requesting personal information
· Irregular email address
· Unknown and unfamiliar senders
· Message that requires immediate action
· Email contains typos.
Keep your email address private.
Do not give out your email address unless you need to for business. Giving out your work email address for personal items can increase your chance of receiving SPAM emails. Included in this would be signing up for any contest or free information or giveaway.
Google Privacy Settings
1. Start by Logging in to your Google account.
2. Go to the Security Check-up option to see the devices, security events, and other email addresses and devices connected to your Gmail account.
3. Adjust the toggle switches to turn features on or off.
4. Perform the same process for the Personal Information and Privacy Settings.
Microsoft Outlook privacy settings
1. Click on your account icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
2. In the menu list, click My Account.
3. Click on Privacy and Security options to change the settings.
Yahoo! Mail privacy settings.
1. Make sure that you are logged in to your Yahoo! Mail Account.
2. Click on the gear icon.
3. Click on the Account Information option.
4. In the Account Security section, click on the Generate app password option.
Apple Mail privacy settings.
1. Click the apple icon in the upper left corner of the screen.
2. Click on System Preferences.
3. Click on the Security and Privacy option.
Use a third-party spam filter.
Your mail service comes with a filter system, but you can add a third-party spam filter to help add another layer of cybersecurity. It will make the emails to go thru a two-spam filter system before it reaches your inbox. If it is missed by one, the other should catch it.
If you have effective spam filters, you will protect your devices against malware threats, undesirable content, and attacks. You will need to find one that works with your email provider and the addresses you own.
Change your email address.
One of the main reasons to change the address will be to think that the email has been exposed to a data breach. It is something that would not work well with your business email.
If this is for a personal account, it would be easy to set up multiple accounts to limit the spam that appears in your primary inbox.
Steps for setting up a Gmail account.
1. Start by signing up for a new account with your current email service or Gmail.
2. Next, notify your contacts that you have a new account and that you will be using the new email.
3. If you would like, you can then go to the settings section and add the new email address to forward incoming emails from your old account, but this could bring some of the spam over.
So, I would not recommend it. If you have notified all of your contacts, you should get all critical emails without forwarding them.
How to add a forwarding address if you want.
Once you have created a new address, you can set up a new account to receive emails from your old address. The way that you can do this would be to adjust the forwarding settings.
1. In the old email account, you will have to go to the Settings option.
2. Click the Forwarding and POP/IMAP tab.
3. Add a forwarding address box.
4. Enter the new email address.
5. Click “Next” to verify the process.
Unsubscribe from an email list.
By unsubscribing from the email list, you may have signed up to help you keep a low profile.
Often, you will find that this is an area that a lot of people get your email address from.
How to unsubscribe from individual emails
Most of the marketing emails you will receive have an unsubscribe button at the bottom of the email. Some that come from Gmail will also have the unsubscribe button at the top near the To: or From:.
How to unsubscribe from multiple emails.
1. In the search bar, type “Unsubscribe.”
2. Click the down arrow next to the box.
3. Click on the Create Filter button
4. Click the Delete and Apply Filter to Matching Conversations boxes
5. Create a filter.
Common spam email security threats
When you get Spam, email is annoying in most cases, but putting your digital safety at risk makes it even worse. Below you will find a couple of the most common types of security threats.
Trojan Horses-It will disguise itself within fake downloads or different links.
Come disguised as a legitimate program. You can think you know how to verify whether an email is legitimate; the trojan horse uses deception to get past defense mechanisms.
One area that they can be is inside free software downloads or in an email attachment from a person you know.
The trojan will install malicious code most of the time; it is spyware or viruses designed to cause problems on your computer.
Allow an attacker to take control of your computer, lock you out, account information or email addresses, or steal your data. Having anti-malware software to help you catch the trojans.
If you notice more pop-ups on your computer, it would be an excellent time to start running your antivirus software.
Zombies-It will turn your computer into a server that spams the other computers you deal with.
Most times, Zombies will come to your computer as a Zombie in an attachment. In most cases, you may not know that your computer has been compromised.
Some ways to know what is going on are if you notice that your computer is slowing down considerably or draining your battery more quickly than it usually would.
One way you can stop this would be not to open attachments or clicking links to your email from your spam folder.
Phishing and Vishers-Gets you to put in your private information.
These types of emails look or mimic messages from legitimate businesses or banks that you may use. They will ask you to go to fraudulent websites that look like the companies' normal own. They will ask you to enter your credit card number or to verify your passwords. It is done to get your personal information.
Another way would be to have you call them on the phone to give them personal information. Remember that companies do not ask for this information via phone or email.
One way to check to see if you are working with a legitimate company is to do a Google search of the company.
Lottery Scams and Fake Offers- Just like it sounds, it pretends that you may have won a prize.
These types of scams have been around for a long time. They use our desire or good nature. Either by saying that someone needs help or that you have won the lottery.
When you receive these types of Scams, they will often ask you for information like your bank account number.
Some of the phrases cause you should look for are “Immediate” or “ACT NOW” in the email title. Delete these emails.
How to stay spam free
At this point, there is no “do not email” list for spam. Until the best protection is yourself, you do have the spam filters that the email programs provide, but they can not do it alone.
We are in a time where we are receiving more and more spam or scam email. You will need to be careful when opening any emails that are not from people that you know. If you have any doubt about an email, it is better not to open the email.