Every day, the first job you do after browsing the entire social media is checking your Gmail, Outlook mailbox, and so on. You simply scroll down, and the list is flooded with hundreds of emails, right from job invites, promotional offers, confirmation emails, feedback, and so much more.
When you get rid of these emails, your go-to option is simply clicking on the unsubscribe option in the mailing list. But doing so can literally harm you. Meaning that you can open the doors for scammers and personal information in danger, as mentioned in a recent report by Wall Street Journal.
Also, one of the experts, TK Keanini, CTO of DNSFilter says that pressing the unsubscribe button can take you away from the safety of the email client and into the internet where malicious hackers are already waiting there.
Even though clicking buttons doesn’t take you to the phishing page, there are other risks to keep an eye on. Further, 1 in 644 clicks to unsubscribe may result in phishing websites verifying that your email is active.
What’s the Gmail Unsubscribe Scam?
Here’s how the Gmail Unsubscribe Scam works: It’s a kind of phishing scam wherein the bad actors embed “unsubscribe” links that are hidden. Instead of keeping you away from the mailing list, they redirect you toward phishing websites or try to track your online activities. If these links take you to phishing websites or ask you to "confirm your email" or "enter your password," the risk increases.
According to cybersecurity firm DNSFilter, nearly 1 in 644 unsubscribe links lead to harmful sites, a staggering statistic considering the billions of emails sent daily.
Easiest Tips to Be Safe Online:
- Make sure to use the unsubscribe option of the email provider. Do not simply click on the links in the email. Gmail and Outlook have unsubscribe buttons at the top which safely keeps you within the inbox.
- Mark all the suspicious emails as spam. This keeps you secure from incoming threats.
- Do not click unsubscribe links in emails from senders you do not trust.
- Another easy tip is, using email privacy tools such as Apple’s “Hide My Extensions”. This will safeguard your online identity by masking your real address.
- Regularly updating email apps will help to maintain security, performance, and unlock new features.
The below-mentioned tips can surely keep you away from scammers and identity theft.
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Also Read:
Online Privacy: What Is It and Why Is It Important?
Top Tips to Protect Your Personal Information Online
