Cybercriminals send billions of spam emails per day using automated scripts which can flood inboxes, reduce productivity, and cause serious security breaches if not managed correctly. For advanced protection against all types of cyberattacks Mimecast offers industry leading solutions featuring best in class security powered by AI detection & machine learning.
Spam email remains one of the most common cybersecurity threats in the world, and its persistence spans almost 40 years since the very beginning of network computing. Today, of course, learning how to stop spam emails is almost a rite of passage for any internet user, but as our knowledge of preventing email spam increases, so too does the sophistication of techniques used by cybercriminals.
Of course, in many cases, spam is just a nuisance that needs to be attended to once in a while; however, it does also have the potential to lead to cybersecurity breaches that can be extremely damaging to both individuals and organizations. For this reason, it is important to stay up to date with the latest methods of getting rid of spam emails and ensuring your inbox is protected.
Here then, we explore what exactly spam is, how to stop spam email, and how you can improve cybersecurity best practices whether at home or in the office.
At its core, spam email is unsolicited, bulk, or commercial email sent indiscriminately to a large number of recipients. However, alongside annoying advertisements and other unwanted content, modern-day spam may also contain serious cybersecurity threats.
The introduction of spam bots at the turn of the millennium saw the capacity for spam email increase dramatically, with cybercriminals able to send billions of emails a day. This large quantity of mail sent using automated scripts has the potential to flood a recipient's inbox, causing frustration and reducing productivity.
However, many of these messages also contain malicious links or attachments that can infect a recipient's computer with malware or trick the recipient into revealing personal or financial information. Additionally, phishing scams and spam emails that are intended to damage brand reputation are also common.
There are countless types of spam email, and cybercriminals are always devising new ways to trap users and trick them into divulging sensitive information or installing one of the many types of malware. Some of the most common spam email types, which may or may not include phishing scams and malware threats, include:
The dangers of spam email are clear, however, many people are unaware of the sheer scale of the issue. In essence, spam works as a numbers game, and even if only a tiny fraction of the users who receive spam are tricked, it can quickly become lucrative for cybercriminals. The odds of success are further increased if malware is installed on a device or network.
For example, in one report by the magazine Eureka, a botnet known as Rustock was able to send 30 billion spam emails per day, with an estimated one million computers infected. To date, this is the largest spambot network ever recorded; however, having run for more than five years before being taken down in 2011, there are many more that go undetected.
More recent figures suggest that phishing attacks increased by 65% in 2020, and 43% of all spam emails contained some kind of malware. Additionally, some estimates suggest that employees spend up to two hours per day dealing with email, with 20% of this time dedicated to managing spam alone!
Considering how long we spend managing spam, it makes sense to learn how to get rid of spam emails quickly and efficiently without compromising security. To do this, there are a number of tools and techniques that can be used.
Being cautious with your personal information is a preventative method of getting rid of spam emails. Creating a separate address for online shopping and other similar uses is a good way to do this. This approach can reduce the chance of accidentally responding to emails from unknown or suspicious sources from accounts tied to your personal or work emails.
Today, most email providers have built-in filters that can automatically sort spam emails into separate folders or mark them as junk. Users can also create custom filters to sort emails based on specific criteria, such as those from online marketplaces or newsletters. More sophisticated filtering services can also block known spam threats so they never get to your inbox.
Installing an ad blocker in your web browser can reduce the number of pop-up ads that may lure you into entering your email address or other personal information, However, it is also important to remember that this is unlikely to stop spam emails from making it into your inbox unless you choose to enter your email.
Confirming subscriptions from companies you trust before clicking the link in the email is a good way to get rid of spam emails you receive. This helps ensure that you only receive emails from reputable sources and will reduce the chances of accidentally subscribing to a spam email.
Before clicking on a link in an email, it's always a good idea to check the sender's email address, domain name, and content to make sure it's from a company you trust. If you're unsure about an email, you can also perform a quick online search for the company to verify that the email is legitimate.
Reporting spam as soon as you see it can help to reduce the number of spam emails you receive in the future. Most email providers have a "Report as Spam" or "Report Phishing" button that you can use to mark an email as spam, and this helps email providers proactively learn to identify and block future spam emails from the same sender.
In addition, many email providers have a team of security experts who review reported spam emails to help identify and block future spam and phishing attempts. So, reporting spam emails not only helps you but also helps protect other users who may receive similar spam emails.
For advanced email protection and resources on how to stop spam emails, Mimecast offers a range of products and services that can be rapidly deployed and tailored to your organization's existing infrastructure.
Featuring best-in-class email security solutions that protect against all types of email attacks, including phishing and malware, our industry-leading products are designed to meet your needs and defend against the most sophisticated attacks today. AI-powered is included as standard to ensure cutting-edge email security & resilience and ensure the very best protection against email spam.
Despite having lived with spam for more than 40 years, there can be no single fix to the problem. This means that both individuals and organizations must remain aware of the latest threats and use a range of prevention techniques and protection tools. In doing this, and with advances in AI-detection and machine learning, spam email might not become a thing of the past, but it will become less dangerous to users and organizations.
For more information on Mimecast’s email security solutions and other cybersecurity products, contact us today to discuss your specific needs. Additionally, explore our resource section and learn more about how to stop spam email, as well as other insights into the cybersecurity landscape.
Spam email is unsolicited, bulk or commercial email sent indiscriminately to a large number of recipients. Alongside unwanted advertisements, modern spam may contain malicious links or attachments that infect a computer with malware or trick the recipient into revealing personal or financial information.
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