Tired of wading through spam to find important emails? Here's how to take back control of your inbox.
Prevention is Better Than Cure
The best way to avoid spam is to prevent it from reaching you in the first place.
Use Temporary Email for Signups
The #1 source of spam is giving your email to websites. Use a temporary email address for:
- Free trials and downloads
- Newsletter signups you're unsure about
- Contest entries
- Wi-Fi access portals
- One-time purchases from unknown stores
Create Email Aliases
Some email providers let you create aliases. Use a different alias for different purposes to track who's selling your data.
Dealing with Existing Spam
Unsubscribe Properly
Legitimate companies include unsubscribe links. Use them. But never click unsubscribe on obvious spam - it confirms your email is active.
Use Spam Filters
Modern email services have powerful spam filters. Make sure yours is enabled and train it by marking spam correctly.
Report Phishing
Report suspicious emails to your email provider. This helps improve filters for everyone.
Red Flags to Watch For
- Urgent requests for personal information
- Suspicious sender addresses
- Poor grammar and spelling
- Generic greetings like "Dear Customer"
- Links that don't match the company's domain
Start Fresh
If your inbox is overrun with spam, consider starting fresh with a new primary email and being more careful about where you share it. For everything else, use temporary email.