What causes spam to get to the mail

Having junk emails in the inbox is not a strange thing. However, when that number increases considerably, we should be concerned. We would have to think what could have happened to constantly receive so many spam emails that bothers us every day and that can even put security at risk.

Regardless of whether or not spam is dangerous, the truth is that it will harm us when the inbox fills up. There are several reasons why we are going to have problems:

• Makes us waste time
• Generate lower productivity in a company
• Stress and tiredness when having to constantly delete emails
• You can make us miss an important email

Publicize management

One option for which so much spam reaches the inbox is to make the email address public. This occurs, for example, when sending a message on an Internet forum. We may leave the address written there and that's a problem, as anyone could see it. This also includes bots that can track the network to record emails.

Something similar happens when we put a comment on a web page or give too much information on social networks. In these cases, our address may also end up in the wrong hands and that will be a problem for privacy. They're going to start flooding the inbox with spam.

Register in insecure places

Of course, the places where you register They will also be a way of entry for junk emails. If you create an account on a page that is unreliable, that can use your data for advertising purposes, then your inbox could be flooded with spam and pose a real problem.

The same can be said of an application that you install and that requests your data, for example. In these cases it could also be putting you on a list or spam campaigns and your email address could be hurt.

Accept promotions

You can also end up on a spam list for accepting certain conditions by install a program or promotions for social networks, for example. Even by registering on a public Wi-Fi network you may be accepting that your data be used for advertising purposes, even if you don't know it.

This is a common problem, as there are many occasions when we accept terms without actually reading them thoroughly. In many cases we may be agreeing to receive advertising via email.

Use a provider with a bad filter

Another question to keep in mind is the type of mail you use. Most will have a filter to detect spam and that they are a problem. Automatically it will send them to the spam tray. Now, you may be using a provider that does not have a good filter and that is the reason.

If you use an unsecured email provider that doesn't have a good anti-spam setup, you could see the inbox flood without you doing anything. I would not bypass spam.

In short, as you can see there are different reasons why your spam inbox can be filled. Whatever the reason, you should always mark those emails as junk emails and they don't get to the main tray.

How to avoid spam

After explaining the main reasons why spam arrives, we are going to give some advice to avoid spam. Some steps you can take to protect your email address and reduce those annoying emails that contribute nothing and can even be a problem.

Use multiple accounts

One option you can consider is to use different email accounts. This will reduce the risk of spam getting to you and flood the inbox. You can have each one for a well-defined function and thus limit its functions and not expose them more than necessary.

For example, could you create different accounts for these purposes:

• e-mail for work: In this way you separate your working life from the personal one and prevent the junk mail tray from filling up.
• Personal or private mail: is the e-mail that you are going to use for your personal life, to receive and send emails with friends, family, companies, etc. Here you can include online purchases, reliable forums, etc.
• e-mail for less reliable matters: A third option would be to create an email for anything that is not reliable. For example registering on a website you don't trust, using an unsafe program, etc. This will avoid affecting the personal account.

Take care of your personal information

Of course, something essential will be taking care of your personal information. You must avoid exposing the email account more than necessary. For example, do not make the address public in open forums or web pages that anyone can read and then include you in a spam campaign without your permission.

This also includes social networks and the use you are going to give it. You should not expose your accounts or information publicly. This would allow anyone to see what you have put on Facebook, for example, and that includes the email address.

Never respond to filtered as unwanted emails

One of the ways to catch us used by scammers is by bombarding us with spam continuously and with different types of messages, They do this with the intention of making us feel the need to reply to any of these messages to tell them to stop sending us emails or something else.

This is a fairly common mistake that many people make, since by responding we are confirming to the individual who is sending us spam that we are prone to fall for their game. It could be a reason for us to cause the opposite effect and instead of stopping, in fact, intensify mailings of this type.

Unsubscribe from mailing lists

Another of the best ways in which we can reduce spam emails that reach our inbox is to unsubscribe from the emails that are coming to us, especially those that refer to marketing. Largely within the same emails they send us, There is a button to unsubscribe from that subscription and that type of emails from that particular company stops reaching us.

Normally, this button is at the end, below all the emails we receive, and probably in a fairly tiny font size, since of course, even if it's there, They want it to be as visible as possible to prevent people from seeing it quickly.

Avoid registering at dubious sites

Whenever you go to register in one website or any online platform, You must make sure it is really reliable. Otherwise, your personal data may be in danger and that also includes the email address. You could start receiving spam for this reason.

If you are going to register somewhere and do not know if it is reliable or not, you can always use an alternative to your main email. For example, you can have an address for these cases or even use a disposable email account, which expires after a while and once you have registered.

Maintain good protection

Another issue to always keep in mind is to maintain the security of the systems. Spam can also come due to a vulnerability in your team that has exposed your personal information. To avoid this, it is necessary to take measures to improve protection.

Something fundamental is having a good antivirus. This will prevent the entry of viruses and security threats. For example, Windows Defender itself is a good option. However, there are many alternatives available both free and paid. Avast or Bitdefender are other interesting options too.

But beyond having security programs, something essential is update the team. This will give you greater protection and you can correct vulnerabilities that may appear. In the case of Windows, to update it you have to go to Start, you enter Configuration and you go to Windows Update. New versions will appear there, if any.

In short, if you wonder why so much spam reaches your tray, as you have seen there are different reasons why it can happen. It is important that you always follow certain recommendations to minimize spam and be able to enjoy email without problems, without your personal data being compromised. Using a good email provider, such as Gmail itself, coupled with good practices, will help you greatly.