Spam messages have always been a pain and can clog your inbox if left unchecked. And although you have spam filters sometimes a few of these messages still get through. Sadly you can never truly avoid spam entirely, but what you can do is reduce the amount that you receive. Here are some tips to keep away from spam.
Disclaimer: The apps, programs, and companies featured in this article are not spammers and were used purely as examples only.
Table of Contents
Avoid spreading your email address publicly
The best and easiest way to avoid receiving spam messages is to keep your email private. Spammers love public places so unless it’s a trusted website or forum do not willingly provide your email address, also do not publicly display your email on forums posts or comments sections.
Trick spambots
If you have to provide your email address, be it for work or some other reason, then it’s best to try and avoid spambots. Spambots are programs aimed at getting valid email addresses and sending out spam messages. These bots read email addresses word for word so to avoid them write your email in a way that only people would understand. For example, instead of typing [email protected] you can type [email protected] or iliketrains at gmail.com.
Use separate email accounts
Another way to avoid clogging your work or personal email with spam is to create email accounts for public use. It might be a handful maintaining separate email accounts but at least in this way your personal or work email will be kept safe.
Read Terms and Condition Pages
Yes, we know it’s a pain reading through a long list of words but blindly agreeing to these terms and conditions are risky. When signing up for a web account or newsletter on a site, make sure that you’re not giving them the right to send you unsolicited emails or to share your email address, also do not subscribe to promotional offers.
Do not open links and attachments
Aside from confirming that your email exists, which would then prompt them to send more spam, clicking on links and attachments in spam messages could potentially open you up to phishing and malware.
Report spam
A way to help improve your client’s spam filters is to report spam messages especially those that passed through the filters. To report a message as a spam click on the report spam button located with other tabs such as delete or archive.
Do not unsubscribe from spam emails
The goal of spammers is to validate if your email address exists. One of their methods to get you to do so is by tricking you into unsubscribing to them if you do it means your email exists. Besides, why would you unsubscribe from something you did not even subscribe in.
Never accept plug-ins or install extensions from untrusted sources
Agreeing to plugins and installing extensions from untrusted sources would not only open you to spam but also to potential malware and viruses, especially if these programs are linked or attached to spam messages.
Do not reply to spam messages
Again their goal is to know if your email exists and what better way to confirm that than by receiving a personal reply to their message.
Do not use auto-responders
If you are a busy person then having auto-responders is convenient. But then again this would also be convenient for spammers as your email would auto reply to their messages hence confirming that your email address is valid.
Spammers and cybercriminals learn new tricks every day so one must remain vigilant and observant when traversing the web. Remember to report any incident you encounter to proper authorities to help them improve their methods of keeping you safe.
We’ve partnered with Globe to bring you more #makeITsafePH guides and tutorials on how to secure your internet life. Check more feature stories like this in the section below.
More #makeITsafePH security tips:
- 5 ways to spot a Phishing Site from a Mile Away
- 10 Email Tips to Keep Away from Spam
- How to Manage Internet Use for your Children
- How to Clean your PC from Malware
- 6 Internet Security Tips in The Workplace
- How to Keep Safe when using Public or Free WiFi
- 4 Signs Your Online Accounts May Have Been Compromised
