In this article we talk about email spam and how they effect the users. Having an email has become necessary in today’s world with all the internet based services and businesses. Emails can contain crucial information that in the wrong hands can be harmful to the email owner. Email spam or junk emails can get unauthorized access to your information and consequently put your security and privacy at great risk.
What is an Email Spam?
Email spams are unwanted messages sent to your inbox. Spams do not show their sender address, not to mention their identity. The email spam is sent to a large list of email addresses called distribution list. Spammers use the email spams on millions in hope of the spams working for a small audience only. They use spam-bots to acquire email addresses off of internet like a fish net. These bots automatically go through the internet to get as many email addresses as they can.
How are they harmful?
Generally spams’ doings lead us to the keyword that is email fraud. Spams try to seem like legitimate and alluring messages. Most of the time the messages are from a brand or company trusted by the majority. They offer some kind of reward or time and member limited opportunities.
They ask you for information to continue the path to the reward or opportunity. These information could be your credit card credentials, usernames, other emails to be used for mischievous reasons and goals. Scams of this kind are still taking place everyday.
Some would argue that people have grown into the spams schemes so why would spammers go through all the trouble. While the fact that people have, now, more experience against spams and use preventive measures is true but sending an email spam is actually worth it. Purchasing proxies and sending the spams through international IP’s are going to be worth it. As it is mentioned before spammers use spam-bots to acquire their distribution list. This list contains great number of email addresses. Email spams can go to 5 millions of email addresses and only a small amount of that total can be more than enough.
How to fight Email Spams?
If your email address is victim to a large based spammer then getting spams might be inevitable. However, you could use some evasive measures to keep your email safe from junk emails.
- Spam Filters
Most email providers implement spam filters that direct the junk emails to the spam box. The companies try their best to offer a good filter to keep their users satisfied and connected to their inbox.
- Report Spams
When you face a spam that you have recognized, report the spam. By reporting it your email provider will direct the emails with the same spam address and content to your junk folder in future.
- White-list
You can make a white-list that includes the email addresses that you approve. In this case you only get emails from these addresses in your inbox. The downfall is that you ave to keep updating the white-list.
- Use Replaceable Email Addresses
As said above, spammers use spam-bot and to avoid getting in their distribution list you could use fake, replaceable or temp email addresses. It’s better to use your real email address in more trusted platforms.
- Do NOT Click
Do not click on messages that seem fishy. Spammers have many tricks under their sleeves, so don’t try to outsmart them. They might send regular emails to make you frustrated and go for the “Unsubscribe” button.
- Munging
Spam-bots look for conventional patterns of emails like, “[email protected]”. Try sending your email address like this, “joe at spy dot com”.
