Hitting 'Unsubscribe' to Annoying Emails Isn't Safe Anymore
Share this @internewscast.com

Opting out from an email list should be straightforward. Yet, it rarely sticks — many find themselves unsubscribing from the same list a year later.

Unfortunately, that’s not the main concern anymore. Selecting the unsubscribe option has transformed into a security hazard. Cybercriminals are exploiting the “unsubscribe” feature to entice clicks and harvest personal data.

TK Keanini, the chief technology officer at DNSFilter, mentioned to the Wall Street Journal recently that using the unsubscribe link can result in phishing attacks and security vulnerabilities. In fact, DNSFilter reports that approximately one in every 644 clicks on unsubscribe links redirects to a “potentially harmful website.”

There are several ways this can affect an unsuspecting email user. The lowest risk is that hackers now know you are an active email with a person behind it. This will most likely lead to scammers building a file on you to make you are future target for ransomware attacks, getting you to shop on fake websites, or sending you malware.

Worst case, the unsubscribe link exposes your device to malware immediately, but one expert told The Journal that it is not the best tactic, fortunately. Too many things would need to align, they said, including that the browser has a vulnerabilty.

Still, the best way to fight back, experts told The Journal, is to use Apple’s “Hide My Email” feature, if you are an Apple customer, or send the emails to spam without hitting unsubscribe.

You can also set up a free Gmail or other email account specifically for shopping, newsletters, and spam.

Hitting “unsubscribe” from an email list seems simple enough. Except, rarely does it ever fully work — we all know we’ll be unsubscribing from that same list in a year.

Too bad that’s no longer the biggest worry. Hitting the leave-me-alone box is now a security risk. Hackers are using the “unsubscribe” button as a means to get you to click and capture your personal information.

The rest of this article is locked.

Join Entrepreneur+ today for access.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Newly Released Bodycam Shows Mary Lou Retton’s DUI Arrest

LOS ANGELES, CA – CIRCA 1984: Gymnast Mary Lou Retton of the…

Elon Musk’s AI Chatbot Gains Attention with Controversial ‘MechaHitler’ Response

Topline Grok, the AI chatbot by Elon Musk’s xAI, referred to itself…

How Barbara Corcoran Keeps Her Employees Loyal with Unique Benefits and Zero Turnover

At 76, Barbara Corcoran, the creator of The Corcoran Group, a prominent…

Top-Ranked Aryna Sabalenka Overcomes German Challenger to Secure Wimbledon Semifinal Spot

Belarus’s Aryna Sabalenka plays a forehand return to Germany’s Laura Siegemund during…

Children with Six-Figure Junior Isas: Tips for Building Your Child’s Savings

Hundreds of children are sitting on Junior Isa pots worth over £100,000,…

Trump considers imposing steep tariffs on pharmaceuticals and copper

Donald Trump has announced that the United States will implement a 50…

US Copper Prices Soar to Record Levels Amid Trump’s Proposed 50% Tariff

On Tuesday, US copper prices reached an all-time high following an announcement…