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We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

Genady
I've been receiving numerous text messages from unknown numbers, both international and domestic, containing a single line such as "Hello" or "Can we talk?" I know others who have experienced the same issue. I typically delete these messages and mark them as junk, but they've become increasingly frequent. Do you have any suggestions on how to block these messages entirely?

As always, thank you for your valuable insights and updates on staying safe in the digital world.

Best regards,

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

Genady
I've been receiving numerous text messages from unknown numbers, both international and domestic, containing a single line such as "Hello" or "Can we talk?" I know others who have experienced the same issue. I typically delete these messages and mark them as junk, but they've become increasingly frequent. Do you have any suggestions on how to block these messages entirely?

As always, thank you for your valuable insights and updates on staying safe in the digital world.

Best regards,

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

Thank you Genady your posts are always so helpful. We appreciate you. 

Something I recently learned and have to share.

Most people have a version of AI on their phones these days.  I have found that if you take a screen shot of a text message or email with links you can ask the AI "Is this spam" and they will analyze phone numbers/ links and respond with a summary of yes this is known or possible fraud or no this should be safe. ChatGPT, Grok and Malwarebytes are the ones I have tried with texts I know are spam and an encrypted payoff email.

You can also use the browser versions.

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber

We all know the frustration of an overflowing inbox. When you see yet another unwanted email with an "unsubscribe" link at the bottom, clicking it seems like the obvious solution. But here's something that might surprise you: one out of every 644 clicks can lead to a potentially malicious website, according to recent cybersecurity research.

Think of unsubscribe links as doors. When you click one from a legitimate company, you're walking through the front door of a business you know. However, when scammers create fake unsubscribe links, they're building a trap door that appears identical to the real one.

Here's what can happen when you click a malicious unsubscribe link:

• You confirm your email is active. Clicking the opt-out link may prove to the sender that your email address is active. This will prompt the spammer to target you for more spam in the future. Instead of fewer emails, you've just signed up for more
• You might download harmful software. Cybercriminals may exploit the trust users have in unsubscribe links to trick them into clicking on malicious links or downloading harmful attachments. This malware can steal your personal information or damage your device
• You could fall for a phishing trap. Fake unsubscribe links often redirect you to websites that look legitimate but are designed to steal your login credentials or financial information

How to Unsubscribe Safely

The good news is that you can protect yourself while still managing unwanted emails. Here's your safety roadmap:

• First, evaluate the source. If you remember signing up for emails from a company you recognize-like your local gym, a favorite retailer, or a newsletter you subscribed to-it's generally safe to click their unsubscribe link
• For suspicious emails, use these safer alternatives: Instead of clicking links in questionable emails, use the tools in your email program to label the message as "spam." This sends future messages from that sender straight to your spam folder and helps protect others by lowering the sender's reputation score
• Alternative option: Look for the unsubscribe button provided by your email service itself-not in the email body. These generally appear as built-in buttons in your email client, not in the body of the email itself, so they won't include any suspicious source code
• The safest alternative: For Apple users, the "Hide My Email" feature allows you to generate unique, random email addresses that automatically forward to their real email inbox. That way, you can sign up for services, make purchases and get coupons, among other things, while keeping your email address private. You can create as many aliases as you want, and unsubscribing is just a change of a slider in iCloud to disable the alias

Remember, protecting your inbox security doesn't mean living with spam forever. By understanding these risks and following safer practices, you can reduce unwanted emails without exposing yourself to cyber threats.

#ALTACyber