Is “Unsubscribe” Safe? How to “Unsubscribe” From Spam Emails.

When the U.S. Postal Service was our primary mail carrier, almost everyone hated going to our mailboxes to find piles of “Junk Mail.” But each new communication advancement yields new opportunities for digital mailboxes to be flooded with junk mail, also known as “spam.” When we received physical mail, we could just dump unwanted advertisements and offers in the garbage can on the way into our homes. If we chose not to reply to the mail, the trash was its ultimate destination, and that was that.

Now, digital email and text messages can be interactive. We can respond to offers, click on hyperlinks and press buttons embedded in the body of the messages. We are often presented with the option to “UNSUBSCRIBE.” This offer might seem like the logical solution to Inbox Overload. But, unfortunately, unsubscribing is not as safe as it looks.

I Use Gmail Spam Filter For My Emails. Isn’t That Good Enough?

No spam filters are perfect and cannot be relied upon to catch all the unwanted and malicious messages flooding your inbox. As good as the Gmail spam filter is, all filters can miss dangerous spam messages that should be automatically moved to a junk folder. On the flip side, legitimate emails from trusted senders can be improperly marked as spam instead of going to your inbox.

Different filters search for various indicators. The filtering components of spam filters include:

Header filters – examines the email header for false claims
Permission filters – request that the sender receive permission from the recipient before sending the email.
Content filters – check the content within the entire message for signs the message could be spam
Rules-based filters – use parameters and criteria the user pre-selects to decide if the message Is safe
Challenge-response filters – require a trusted sender to enter a code to get permission to send an email to you.
General blacklist filters – filter against a list of known spammers and cybercriminals to block any communication from them.

To Unsubscribe or Not Unsubscribe? It’s Not an Easy Question.

The problem is that when you choose to “Unsubscribe,” you are choosing to interact with the mail or text. As soon as you send the word or click on a button to “Unsubscribe,” you are immediately verifying that your email address or phone number is valid and active. Even if the original message is a legitimate sales offer, your information has now become a qualified sales lead with your response. To a cybercriminal, you have identified yourself as a potential target.

Anyone can be the unknowing victim of illicit spam. The FBI recently arrested two brothers for hacking into university databases. They stole private data to launch spam campaigns under false pretenses. The spammers, pretending to be alumni-owners of the company, hacked into the databases, victimizing students, colleges and universities, selling them alleged tests, spring-break travel offers, magazine subscriptions and other products and services. Although Missouri University graduates themselves, the hackers had no association with the colleges, universities and students they spammed. However, they were able to con them using the alumni-ownership pretense. The cybercriminals were caught and had to refund $1.4 million to more than 2,000 victims.

Almost 50% of all email is alleged to be spam. It is big business and is unlikely to go away. And although spam filters cannot stop all spam, they help. Inboxes without any spam filters will eventually become so flooded with junk mail that they will become unworkable. Small to midsized businesses cannot afford to spend hours sifting through spam and analyzing what is safe to open. Even with current spam filters, the task can be arduous.

Unsubscribing might seem like the obvious and easiest way to eliminate unwanted spam emails. However, as with all internet-related things, we must think before we click. Taking a few extra moments to manually block an email or phone number that is sending you spam is worth the extra effort. There are enough day-to-day challenges to operating a successful small to midsized business. Time spent chasing and blocking spam is not time well spent.

As your business grows, expands its network and adds more devices such as smart controls, wireless access and remote access, your network vulnerability and need for regular Network Cyber Security will grow, too. From the little details of blocking robocalls to the vast undertaking of protecting your network and hard-earned data from cyberattacks, your business cannot afford to ignore these ever-evolving threats. Since the pandemic and the increase in remote-access work, the importance of Mobile Device Management ensuring proper protections are in place has never been greater.

Whether you work at a home office or remotely, there are affordable solutions to help manage all your IT needs. GEEK-AID^® Computer and Network Support specializes in customized Managed IT Services for small to midsized businesses. GEEK-AID^®’s team of experts is comprised of specialists in different areas of IT services, serving clients on-site and remotely. The GEEK-AID^® team doesn’t clock out at five o’clock on Friday. They are available 24/7 to ensure your computers, network and data stay healthy and secure. Hardware and software installation and maintenance, repair, security and network protection must be consistent, proactive and not wait for a system failure or data breach.

Call (877) GEEK-AID (877-433-5243) to evaluate and discuss your IT needs. Remember, we are here for you 24/7.