We are all very familiar with spam. We encounter it on the Internet, on our smartphones or on our phones. Spam is an annoying thing in any case. But it can also be dangerous and cause great damage if it is not handled carefully. That’s why the best option is always to prevent spam directly. You can find out how to do this in this article.
Recognize spam
Basically, spam is simply unwanted messages that are usually sent in bulk. The carrier is usually e-mail, but spam also comes in the form of text messages or robo-calls over the phone. Spam is illegal in Germany. Companies are therefore not allowed to use spam in their advertising, as it violates the Unfair Competition Act (UWG). This makes it immediately clear that spam is never trustworthy. Spam should therefore never be opened under any circumstances. In most cases, however, spam is not purely advertising messages. Instead, mass messages are the containers used to transport malware such as viruses and Trojans. Recognizing spam is actually not that difficult. Basically, if a message is from an unknown sender, it is probably spam. If a message is supposedly from a known sender, but has no connection with the link between you and the sender, it is probably spam. Examples include emails claiming that your account has been blocked on a website. You should then click on a link in the email to fix the problem. These emails may come from supposedly known senders, but they are spam and should therefore not be opened. The senders are usually misspelled or there is a spelling mistake hidden somewhere else. After all, the senders cannot use the original address. Spam can usually be recognized by the subject of the message. Exaggerated product promises are usually always spam. This can refer to the fact that you can lose a lot of weight with a special method. Or an investment to get rich straight away. Lengthening certain body parts, getting fitter with miracle cures, finding a partner with just one click and so on. It’s all spam. By the way: “This message is not spam” indicates that the message is spam.
Prevent spam
As a rule, it is not possible to prevent spam completely. To get rid of spam, it must first be present. Email providers have extra options for dealing with spam. Instead of simply deleting spam, you can report it. The email provider’s spam filter will then be improved based on the information received. Personally, it is always a good idea to block senders of spam mails. Attention! Under no circumstances should you unsubscribe from a spam mail by clicking on the corresponding link in the mail. Blocking senders works via the mailbox, not in the mail. To protect important e-mail inboxes from spam, you can create an additional address that you only use for registrations and purchases that you are not sure will not result in more spam being flushed into your own inbox. This way, you have peace of mind away from the “disposable e-mail address” for the most part. It is also a good idea to notify the companies themselves. In the case of robo-calls in particular, you should hang up directly and call the company yourself. This way, you can find out whether there really are problems with your own membership and the company can be made aware of the spam calls. Although they can rarely stop it, they can at least inform other customers of the danger.
Conclusion
Spam is annoying and can sometimes become a nuisance. However, it is rarely difficult to recognize and you can reduce it to a certain extent. However, you can rarely prevent it completely. Instead, you have to use alternative options.
