What is spam email?
Spam email, also known as junk email, refers to unsolicited bulk messages sent indiscriminately to a large number of recipients. The main goals of spam are to spread malware, scam users, or advertise products and services. According to Spam Statistics 2024 on the Email Tool Tester blog, https://www.emailtooltester.com/en/blog/spam-statistics/, 162 billion spam emails are sent every day, making up 49% of the 333 billion total emails sent daily.
Common types of spam email include:
- Phishing emails that aim to steal personal information or login credentials
- Malware distribution through infected email attachments or links
- Fake offers, prizes, or shopping deals to lure users
According to Mailmodo’s research https://www.mailmodo.com/guides/email-spam-statistics/, in September 2021 around 88.88 billion spam emails were sent globally out of a total 105.67 billion emails per day. Spammers utilize botnets and zombie computers to distribute massive volumes of unwanted email.
How spam reaches your iPhone
Spam email can reach your iPhone in a few different ways:
One common method is through email addresses harvested from websites, databases, and other sources. Spammers use automated tools to gather publicly available email addresses online and add them to mailing lists.
Another technique spammers use is spoofing the sender address so the email appears to come from a legitimate source, when it’s really not. This tricks spam filters into letting the message through.
Spammers are constantly adapting their tactics to try and bypass filters. Even with improving filter algorithms, some amount of spam inevitably gets past and ends up in inboxes.
According to Tiny, advanced machine learning techniques in modern filters catch the vast majority of junk emails, but spammers have become sophisticated at disguising their messages.
Risks of opening spam on iPhone
Opening a spam email on your iPhone poses several risks that users should be aware of. The most dangerous risk is the potential to infect your device with malware or spyware. Spam emails often contain malicious links or attachments that can install viruses, trojans, or other malware if opened. This malware could steal sensitive data from your iPhone, like contacts, photos, login credentials, and more. It may also allow hackers to remotely monitor or control your device.
Another common risk with spam emails is phishing attempts and identity theft. Phishing scams aim to trick users into inputting personal information like usernames, passwords, or credit card numbers into fake websites accessed through spam email links. The criminals can then steal this information to commit fraud. Even just opening the spam email risks exposing your email address, which spammers can use or sell to other scammers.
Finally, spam emails are simply a waste of time and an annoyance. Sorting through spam takes effort and distracts from legitimate emails. The frequent spam disturbance can degrade the email experience and make important messages harder to find.
What happens when you open spam
Simply opening a spam email is relatively harmless in itself. However, there are some potential risks to be aware of:
Clicking on any links or tapping attachments in the email could trigger unwanted downloads or installations on your device. Spammers often include links or attachments that contain malware or viruses designed to infect your device or steal your personal information (source).
Opening the spam email lets the spammer know your email address is active. They can then target you with more spam or sell your address to other spammers (source). However, this is usually just an annoyance rather than a serious security risk.
The email itself collects some basic information about your device and location. But this is minor data that cannot directly identify or access your personal information (source).
So in summary, while not recommended, simply opening a spam email is unlikely to cause harm. The real risks come from clicking links or attachments that could spread malware. It’s best to delete unsolicited emails without interacting with them.
How to tell an email is spam
There are a few key signs that can help identify an email as spam:
Generic greetings – Spam emails often use generic greetings like “Dear sir/madam” or “Hello!” rather than addressing you by name.
Suspicious sender address – Hover over the sender’s name to see the actual email address. Spam senders often fake legitimate addresses.
Strange links/attachments – Don’t click on links or open attachments from senders you don’t recognize, as they could contain malware.
Spelling/grammar errors – Spam is often riddled with typos and grammatical mistakes, unlike emails from legitimate businesses.
According to the University of Waterloo, phishing emails may contain incorrect spelling for company names or greetings like “Dear user” rather than a real name [1]. Mail.com also notes that hovering over a sender’s name can reveal a suspicious address that doesn’t match the name [2].
What to do if you open spam
If you accidentally open a spam email on your iPhone, it’s important not to click on any links or download any attachments in the email. Clicking links or downloading attachments could put your device and information at risk. Instead, you’ll want to take the following steps:
First, immediately close the email. On your iPhone, you can swipe left on the email and tap Delete to remove it from your inbox. This prevents you from accidentally opening the spam email again.
Next, mark the email as Junk. In the Mail app, select the email, tap the arrow on the right side, and choose Mark->As Junk. This will help train your iPhone’s spam filter to better detect and block similar junk emails in the future.
It’s also a good idea to scan your iPhone for malware. Go to Settings > General > Reset and choose “Reset Network Settings” to clear any potential issues. You can also install a security app like Malwarebytes to check for malware.
Finally, if the spam email appears suspicious or like a phishing attempt, change your passwords – especially for any accounts referenced in the email. Use strong, unique passwords to secure your accounts in case the email is part of a phishing scam aimed at stealing login credentials.
Following these steps can help secure your device and accounts if you accidentally open a malicious spam email on your iPhone. Being cautious about unknown links and attachments can prevent most issues.
How to avoid spam on iPhone
There are several ways to avoid getting spam emails on your iPhone:
- Don’t use your primary email address when signing up for things online. Instead, use a disposable/temporary email address from a service like 10 Minute Mail.
- Set up spam filters and block lists in your email provider to automatically detect and block spam before it reaches your inbox. Most providers like Gmail have robust spam protection built-in.
- Don’t open emails from unknown or suspicious senders. Delete them right away.
- Never reply to spam emails, click any links, or provide any personal information. This verifies your email is active which leads to more spam.
- Report any spam emails on your iPhone using the ‘Report Junk’ option.
Enabling spam call blocking features on your iPhone can also reduce unwanted calls and voicemail spam.
Removing spam from iPhone
Here are several methods to remove and prevent spam on your iPhone:
Mark as junk to train the filter. Open a spam email on your iPhone and tap the ‘Report Junk’ icon. This will move the spam to your junk folder and help train your iPhone’s spam filter to better detect and block similar messages in the future. Consistently reporting spam helps improve the accuracy of the iPhone’s spam detection over time [1].
Create a spam email folder. You can create a dedicated spam or junk folder in the Mail app and have all suspected spam messages automatically sent there. Tap Edit while viewing your Mailboxes list, tap New Mailbox, name it something like ‘Junk’ and enable the option to move messages here when marked as junk [2]. This keeps spam neatly separated from your inbox.
Report the spammer. Forward spam messages to [email protected] [1] or to the sender’s email provider. You can also file an online complaint about email scams with the FBI at www.ic3.gov [3]. Reporting spammers helps identify bad actors so providers can block them.
[1] https://support.apple.com/en-us/102444
[2] https://discussions.apple.com/thread/255154201
[3] https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/internet-fraud
Securing iPhone against spam risks
One of the best defenses against spam threats is to keep your iPhone’s software up-to-date. Apple regularly releases iOS updates that patch security vulnerabilities and improve privacy protections. Make sure to install the latest iOS update as soon as it becomes available.
Using a virtual private network (VPN) or firewall app can add an extra layer of security when browsing the web and checking emails on your iPhone. Reputable VPN and firewall apps encrypt traffic leaving your device and block connections to malicious sites.
While iPhones have built-in malware scanning, installing a dedicated anti-malware app provides more robust protection. Look for apps that not only scan for malware, but also detect phishing scams, fraudulent links, and other spam tactics.
Strong passwords are also important for securing your iPhone. Avoid reusing passwords across different accounts and enable two-factor authentication where available. Consider using a password manager to generate and store unique, complex passwords.
With safe browsing habits and the latest iOS version, the risk of getting infected by spam on an iPhone is low. But taking some extra precautions like using a VPN, anti-malware software, and strong passwords makes it even more secure.
When to seek help for spam issues
In some cases, you may need to seek additional help for spam-related issues on your iPhone:
If you notice suspicious activity on any of your online accounts after opening a malicious email on your iPhone, you may be the victim of identity theft or a data breach. Contact your email provider, the affected accounts, and consider reporting the incident to the FTC at https://www.ftc.gov/faq/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint-ftc.
Some spam emails contain malicious software or links that can infect your iPhone with viruses, Trojan horses, spyware or other malware. If you start noticing unusual popups, crashes, or other glitches on your iPhone after opening a suspicious email, you may have malware. Try running a scan with antivirus software like Malwarebytes (https://www.malwarebytes.com) and contact Apple support if you cannot remove the malware.
In severe cases like identity theft or a malware infection, you may need to reset or restore your iPhone to factory settings. Before taking this step, be sure to backup your data. If you need help removing sophisticated malware or addressing identity theft, obtain assistance from a security professional.