In my recent posts, I have covered spam emails in detail – why we receive them, how legitimate marketing emails are sent, the tools involved, and the anti-spam laws implemented by various countries to safeguard user privacy.
Although senders, email service providers, and governments work to control spam, users must also take personal responsibility for protecting their data. Let us look at some simple steps we can take toward a cleaner, safer inbox.
Two Different Email Boxes: Divide and Conquer
Your email address is your first line of defense against spam. One effective strategy is to keep separate email addresses for critical and non-critical purposes.
Use one email for sensitive activities, such as banking, government IDs, and official communication. Share this address only with trusted family or friends.
Use another email for general use — social media, shopping, newsletters, etc.
This practice helps reduce the chances of phishing and other malicious attempts on your primary email. Most phishing campaigns target email addresses gathered from public or commercial websites. If you receive such emails on your general-use account, you’ll know they aren’t linked to your sensitive services.
Additionally, unsecured web applications are another way scammers steal email credentials. If you reuse the same email and password everywhere, a single breach can compromise your entire digital life. Maintaining separate emails for different purposes adds a layer of safety.
Avoid Public Exposure of Your Email Address
Spammers often scrape websites or steal data from insecure platforms to build email lists. To avoid becoming a target:
– Don’t display your email openly on websites.
– If you must, obfuscate it. For example, use “name at gmail dot com” instead of name@gmail.com. This tricks bots while remaining understandable to humans.
In today’s world, almost every store or app asks for your email in the name of digital billing, loyalty programs, or surveys. What follows is often a flood of marketing emails. Declining such requests not only protects your inbox but may also protect your wallet by preventing unnecessary purchases triggered by promotional emails.
Avoid Clicking “Unsubscribe” (Sometimes)
Many email providers offer an “Unsubscribe” option for bulk emails. However, clicking these links can backfire, especially in emails from untrusted or unknown senders.
Why? Because clicking “Unsubscribe” may confirm to the sender that your email address is real and active. Rather than removing you, they might send even more spam – or worse, sell your validated email address to others.
Similarly, avoid clicking links like:
– “Update preferences”
– “Remove me from this list”
– “Mark as spam” (when it’s part of the email content)
All of these can signal to spammers that your inbox is active.
Use Folders and Filters
Most modern email services allow you to create folders and apply filters. Take advantage of this:
– Create folders for important contacts or services to make those emails stand out.
– Set up filters based on sender or subject to redirect promotional or suspicious messages to a separate folder.
This not only improves visibility but also reduces distractions and keeps your inbox focused on what truly matters.
Use Single Sign-On (SSO) to Protect Your Passwords
Many websites now support Single Sign-On (SSO), allowing you to log in using accounts like Google or Facebook. With SSO, you can access new platforms without creating new passwords or exposing your credentials to potentially insecure apps.
For example, signing into a site using your Gmail account eliminates the need to register separately. If you are already signed in to Gmail, it is just one click.
If you prefer traditional signups, never reuse passwords across sites. Use password managers like Bitwarden, 1Password, or LastPass to store unique credentials securely — so you don’t have to remember them all.
In brief,
A clean inbox isn’t just about hitting “delete.” It’s about adopting smart email habits — protecting your address, avoiding exposure, staying cautious with unsubscribe links, organizing wisely, and securing your credentials.
These simple practices go a long way in keeping your inbox clutter-free and your data safe.
In my next post, I will share practical tips on identifying scams or fraudulent emails. Stay tuned!
Happy Reading.
Techie Couple 