Spam Emails: Why Do I Get So Many and How Can I Avoid Them? (2023)

Spam e-mail, also known as junk e-mail, is unsolicited messages that are sent in bulk to many different e-mail addresses. Most spam messages are harmless promotional emails. ButSpamcan also be used by scammers as a low-risk and promising vehicle forphishing attacksbe used.

Just opening a spam email can result in you receiving even more spam. If you then click on a malicious link or attachment, you can be targeted byRansomwareor other types ofMalwarebe, such as fromThe emotion-Botnet, spreading from inbox to inbox.

Read on to learn how you can avoid spam emails by adjusting your privacy settings and reviewing your online habits. We explain how to report and block spam and how to unsubscribe from unwanted spam emails.

Report an email as spam

You can remove junk email manually, but doing so will not prevent you from receiving more unwanted email in the future. And you are not ahead of thisViruses or other types of malwareprotected that can be hidden in unsolicited emails - for that you need a tool forMalware Removal.

To effectively block spam, you need to report it, so your email client can learn which email addresses to block and how spam can be filtered out.

Here's how to report spam for Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail:

How to report spam on Gmail

1. Open Gmail.

2. Check the boxto the left of each spam email you wish to report.

3. Then click the icon in the toolbar at the topReport spam(stop sign).

   

How to report spam in Apple Mail

1. Open Apple Mail.

2. Click the spam email you want to report, click and then click the icon on the toolbarSpam.

   See Also

   6 helpful tricks against spam emails
   

How to report spam in Outlook

1. Open Outlook.

2. Right-clickon the spam email you want to report.

3. Go to thesecurity optionsand clickMark as junk email.

   

How to report spam in Yahoo Mail

1. Open Yahoo Mail.

2. Click in the boxto the left of each junk email you want to report.

3. Then click the button on the toolbarMark as spam.

   

Now that you've trained your inbox to recognize and block spam, you should know how toPhishing-E-Mails von Amazonand other spam. Spammers may have methods of bypassing the spam email filter, but they cannot easily fool a well-trained eye.

Filtering will get rid of some spam, but it's best to block spam email addresses that are persistent, dangerous, or fake. And remember everyoneto report Internet scamsthat you encounter, e.g.Phishing attacks on Apple IDsand other threats.

Block spam email addresses

Blocking unwanted e-mail addresses can prevent spam e-mails. But if you have to open the emails to do so, it can have a negative effect: opening fewer spam emails can lead to a flood of more junk mail from other spam accounts.

Here's how to block spam email addresses in Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook, and Yahoo Mail:

How to block spam email addresses on Gmail

1. Open Gmail andtick the boxof the spam email whose senders you want to block.

   

2. Click on the toolbar at the topthree vertical pointsand chooseFilter similar messages.

   

3. click oncreate filtersto create a new Gmail filter for this address.

   

4. From the list of actions, select the optionDeleteand click again to confirmcreate filters.

   

How to block spam email addresses on Apple Mail

1. Open the Mail app and select a message from the sender you want to block.

2. In the message header, click the arrow next to the sender's name and selectblock contact.

   

How to block spam email addresses in Outlook

1. Open Outlook and clickwith the right mouse buttonon the email whose sender you want to block.

2. Scroll tosecurity options, chooseBlock sender, and click.

   

How to block spam email addresses on Yahoo Mail

1. Open Yahoo Mail andcheck the boxto the left of the email whose sender you want to block.

2. click on thethree horizontal pointsin the toolbar and selectBlock sender.

   

For more information on other types of spam, see our guides onStop spam SMSand for blockingspoofing calls. While it doesn't happen often, email and text messages can also serve as delivery vehicles for malware—yes, tooSmartphones, like computers, can catch viruses.

Change your email privacy settings

Curbing spam in your inbox is good, but changing your email privacy settings—and your habits—so you don't get spammed in the first place is even better.

Keep your email as secure as possible. This means that you should not give your address to every person or company. And use thatTwo-Factor Authenticationto further secure your inbox.

Learn how to adjust email privacy settings to prevent spam email and prevent advertisers and other third parties from accessing your address.

Change settings in Gmail

1. Open Gmail and click your in the top rightaccount icon.

2. Then clickManage Google Account.

   

3. Click in the left navigation menuSecurity.

   

4. Check your current settings and change them if necessary. We recommend disabling senders who are sending you unsolicited spam.

   

Change settings in Apple Mail

1. Tap this in the top left corner of the MacApple-Symboland choosesystem settings.

2. Click on the optionSecurity and Privacyand adjust the settings according to your needs.

Change settings in Outlook

1. Click your in the top rightaccount iconand chooseMy Microsoft account.

   

2. click ondata protectionand then upPrivacy Dashboard.

   

3. Click belowApps and ServicesonApps and services that can access your dataand remove access from apps that send you spam or other unwanted email.

   

Change settings in Yahoo Mail

1. Open Yahoo Mail.

2. Click that in the top rightgear iconand chooseMore settings.

   

3. click onSecurity and Privacy. Add specific email addresses you want to block or entire domain names to block apps or services from accessing your email address.

   

Unsubscribing from unsolicited newsletters or mailing lists

Another reason you might get spam is because you signed up for it - knowingly or not. Therefore, removing your email address from spam subscription lists can help keep annoying emails out of your inbox.

First, open your email list and type"Unsubscribe" or "Opt Out"in the email search bar. This will display all newsletters and mailing lists to be unsubscribed, as all of these emails contain the unsubscribe option at the bottom.

Now you can select all those spam emails that you never open, read or no longer want to receive and click the unsubscribe link. Many newsletters and promotional messages, even those from reputable providers, have a hard-to-find unsubscribe button. But if you scroll down far enough you will find them. If you don't find it, you can always report the email as spam, which will automatically unsubscribe you.

Using a second email address

Using a second email account is another way to keep your inbox spam-free. The email addresses used for purchases, event registrations or downloads often end up on spam lists. If you use one email address for communicating with friends and family and another for everything else, your inbox is more likely to stay free of unwanted messages.

More online privacy tips like thisencryptyour inbox with aEmail encryption toolor using oneanonymous email addresssee our other guides.

Using a third-party email filter

Even the best junk mail filter doesn't catch every unwanted email. The additional use of a third-party email filter in combination with your regular email filter can significantly improve your spam defense. There are many powerful third-party spam email filters out there, such as Mailwasher, SpamSieve, Zerospam, Spambrella, and SpamTitan.

Delete suspicious emails

Do not reply to suspicious emails or click on links in spam emails. This increases your risk of receiving even more spam or, in the worst case, becoming a victim ofFraudor become malware. Spam emails can even have afake unsubscribe linkincluded, which will ultimately send you even more spam.

Some junk email is designed to make you want to open it. If you do, the senders will know that your account is active. And can send you even more spam. If something seems weird, it probably doesn't just seem that way. To be on the safe side, it is best to delete such emails – if it was important, the sender will certainly contact you in another way.

And remember to empty your spam folder regularly. E-mails that you mark as spam are usually stored for a certain period of time in case you decide to change your mind. If you want to keep your inbox tidy, or if you want to free up disk space, it is best to empty your spam folder.

How to delete unwanted emails in Gmail

1. Open Gmail and click on the folder in the left navigation menuSpam.

   

2. Click on the top barDelete all spam messages now. Confirm withOK.

How to delete unwanted emails in Apple Mail

1. Open Apple Mail and select the option on the leftSpam.

2. Highlight the messages you want.

3. Click the trash can icon.

How to delete unwanted emails in Outlook

1. Open Outlook.

2. Click on the left sideJunk-E-Mailand then chooseEmpty folder.

   

3. Click to confirmClear all.

How to delete unwanted emails in Yahoo Mail

1. Open Yahoo and click in the left menuSpam.

2. Then check the box next to any spam emails you want to delete.

   

3. Click thattrash iconto empty the spam folder and click to confirmOK.

Protect your device from dangerous spam

Spam and other unwanted messages can come from anywhere, and keeping them out of your inbox is more of a gamble. The good news: With an all-encompassing security and data protection software likeAvastOneyou can protect your e-mails and shield your entire network from malicious threats.

Avast One is built on an award-winning threat detection engine and comes with additional security and privacy features, such as email protection that automatically blocks malicious links and attachments. Download Avast One today to keep you safe online too.